Thread: Fuck yeah, we're gonna bomb the moon

what a bunch of douchers.

another big 'fuck you' to poor people.

How so? Because they're spending money on the progression of mankind?

That's actually really awesome
I hope we can see it from earth~

EDIT: I need to find a friend with a telescope...

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

How so? Because they're spending money on the progression of mankind?

yes. that is the progression of mankind. what a wonderful, futuristic world we live in.

I hate misleading headlines...

Originally Posted by cygnus

yes. that is the progression of mankind. what a wonderful, futuristic world we live in.

Did you even read why they're doing this?

Originally Posted by Naiya

I hate misleading headlines...

How is it misleading? We're firing a missile at the moon for the purpose of causing an explosion. There isn't much room for interpretation there. We're using the explosion to test the debris thrown for water vapour. Our purposes aren't malicious, but we're still bombing the moon nonetheless.

It's like saying "We're nuking the desert!" is misleading, because they're only doing it to test how radiation spreads.

I didn't read anything misleading about the headline at all.

My question is, is this thing carrying a payload or is it purely kinetic?

Judging from this passage

The spacecraft will not head straight for the Moon. First it will orbit the Earth a number of times while its precise target is identified. Finally, it will send the missile into the Moon at twice the speed of a bullet on October 8.

it sounds like it's purely kinetic. Why would the speed matter otherwise?

Bahahhahaha! And there we have it, Mr Show has predicted the future. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csj7vMKy4EI

Outside that hilarious correlation I don't really care.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

Did you even read why they're doing this?

yes, i did.


oh yeah, and Speesh, thanks for that link! haha.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

Judging from this passage



it sounds like it's purely kinetic. Why would the speed matter otherwise?

Yes, it is purely kinetic. Just a rocket, no explosives.

And consiudering NASA's intent, and the fact that the moon is hit with meteors with this much force several times a month, I don't see the big issue. There are actually people online signing petitions to stop NASA. Few, mind you, but they're still there.

It has just four minutes to do this before it crashes into the Moon itself, producing a spectacular explosion that should be visible in amateur astronomers' telescopes.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I just heard about this today in physics. It's happening tomorrow?
4:30am my time. This is going to be epic.

Originally Posted by Supernova

And consiudering NASA's intent, and the fact that the moon is hit with meteors with this much force several times a month, I don't see the big issue.

money.

oh well, nobody can stop NASA.

Originally Posted by Invader

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I just heard about this today in physics. It's happening tomorrow?
4:30am my time. This is going to be epic.

This is where I regret not having a telescope -_-

Hope there's some good videos of it.

Originally Posted by cygnus

yes. that is the progression of mankind. what a wonderful, futuristic world we live in.

Acquiring information that may lead to the construction of a human settlement that is on a celestial body other than the planet of origin = progression of mankind.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

Acquiring information that may lead to the construction of a human settlement that is on a celestial body other than the planet of origin = progression of mankind.

ARE YOU SERIOUS? THAT IS SO FUCKING STUPID.

you really think that the progression of mankind is the degradation of our home planet to the extent that we need to evacuate our elite to a lunar settlement??

Originally Posted by ExoByte

How is it misleading? We're firing a missile at the moon for the purpose of causing an explosion. There isn't much room for interpretation there. We're using the explosion to test the debris thrown for water vapour. Our purposes aren't malicious, but we're still bombing the moon nonetheless.

It's like saying "We're nuking the desert!" is misleading, because they're only doing it to test how radiation spreads.

I didn't read anything misleading about the headline at all.

My question is, is this thing carrying a payload or is it purely kinetic?

The headline is technically correct, but just makes it sound a lot more "dangerous" than it really is. People read the title and go "Zomg! We're bombing the moon?! Oh noes, I need to read about that, it could actually affect me!!" Like in most media, it's there to grab attention and get a knee-jerk emotional response.

Originally Posted by cygnus

ARE YOU SERIOUS? THAT IS SO FUCKING STUPID.

you really think that the progression of mankind is the degradation of our home planet to the extent that we need to evacuate our elite to a lunar settlement??

I totally agree with this. Space isn't going anywhere. So what happens after we find water on the moon? Anyone for Lunar Springs water? Tastes like shit, but it's from space! Seriously though, doesn't anyone like living on Earth anymore, make this place better, not the moon.

Originally Posted by cygnus

ARE YOU SERIOUS? THAT IS SO FUCKING STUPID.

you really think that the progression of mankind is the degradation of our home planet to the extent that we need to evacuate our elite to a lunar settlement??

Uhhh, no, actually, I don't...

We must progress our methods and technologies of expansion else we as a race will perish. Despite whatever preservation methods we could conjure, eventually the Earth is fucked.

But anyway, expanding into space is, by definition, progression. So yes, it is progression of mankind.

Originally Posted by cygnus

ARE YOU SERIOUS? THAT IS SO FUCKING STUPID.

you really think that the progression of mankind is the degradation of our home planet to the extent that we need to evacuate our elite to a lunar settlement??

I'm thinking that things are not remotely so dire that "our elite" will abandon Costa Rica, Cancun and Naples, FL, for property fronting the Sea of Tranquility just yet. The first folks headed to any extraterrestrial settlement are likely to be academicians and skilled workmen: genuine, full-blown Socialism waiting to happen.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

I think this is one of the most awesome things NASA has ever decided to do.

I would rather start my own agency.

Lucid dreamers Against Punching Holes in the Moon and Stuff.

Originally Posted by Taosaur

academicians

Lol this is one of those words you can't believe is real, but really is.

How many countries GDP does NASA's budget triumph?

Originally Posted by C-Fonz

Lol this is one of those words you can't believe is real, but really is.

How many countries GDP does NASA's budget triumph?

You had a point? That refuted mine? I'm not saying Socialism on the moon or Mars is a bad thing, just pointing out that the likelihood of a capital-based, rather than skill-based elite in a non-terrestrial environment is not a significant threat to the earth's, or the moon's, poor.

To some degree I agree with you and Cygnus that we need to get our house in order before we worry too much about reaching out. It's entirely possible, however, that we're in contact with extra-terrestrial life right now and too short-sighted to realize it. In another sense, we're certainly communicating in an uncensored way to extra-terrestrial life, whether we'll encounter them in three years or three thousand.

The notion of the moon as an alternative to life on earth for the elite is laughable. The only possible attractor is longevity, which would be far outweighed by skill unless the long-lived had tremendous resources under their control and an adequate means of intervening in earthly affairs.

haha you're making such a big deal about the elite part, Taosaur who ends up living there isn't really the crux of the matter.

I want to stay up until I can see it.