2001 Space Odyssey-failed prophesy?

[Flopper]

We aren't gonna get off this planet without a huge expenditure that we can't afford. Atomic energy was seen as the solution but if you look at it rationally, nuclear fission is just the source of steam power. Instead of shoveling coal we have a Nuclear rod generating heat and we ain't gonna go into space under steam power.

This is not correct. If we were to really ramp up the space program it would create so much wealth (without having to destroy anything) that we actually could spend our way out of debt. The problem is then, the ruling elite, would no longer have all the power they crave.

A aggressive space program is the only thing that can ensure mankinds continued survival. We absolutely MUST get off of this singular rock before a little rock hits us and either kills us all, or knocks us back to the Stone Age.

I think we should definitively be expanding the space program. The money isn't spent in space; it's spent here on the ground and results in technologies that we can all use here at home. The benefits of NASA's research aren't always obvious, but in retrospect you can find a ton of useful technologies with origins in NASA's basic research.

When our population reaches about 40 billion, we have exhausted many of our critical resources, and turned millions of square miles into landfills, we're going to be looking for another home. Hopefully, we will have developed a way to get there.

 

[hjmick]

Failed prophecy?

It was a friggin' movie, not a Nostradamus quatrain...

 

[westwall]

We aren't gonna get off this planet without a huge expenditure that we can't afford. Atomic energy was seen as the solution but if you look at it rationally, nuclear fission is just the source of steam power. Instead of shoveling coal we have a Nuclear rod generating heat and we ain't gonna go into space under steam power.

This is not correct. If we were to really ramp up the space program it would create so much wealth (without having to destroy anything) that we actually could spend our way out of debt. The problem is then, the ruling elite, would no longer have all the power they crave.

A aggressive space program is the only thing that can ensure mankinds continued survival. We absolutely MUST get off of this singular rock before a little rock hits us and either kills us all, or knocks us back to the Stone Age.

I think we should definitively be expanding the space program. The money isn't spent in space; it's spent here on the ground and results in technologies that we can all use here at home. The benefits of NASA's research aren't always obvious, but in retrospect you can find a ton of useful technologies with origins in NASA's basic research.

When our population reaches about 40 billion, we have exhausted many of our critical resources, and turned millions of square miles into landfills, we're going to be looking for another home. Hopefully, we will have developed a way to get there.

It's actually looking like our population will level off naturally at 9 to 10 billion. A very manageable number. The carrying capacity of this planet with just better than average food production and transport is around 20 billion. If we were to perfect it we could support up to 40 billion.

However, your point about space technology being great for the planet is very very true.

 

[Old Rocks]

Gonna level off a lot lower than that.

 

[FA_Q2]

Gonna level off a lot lower than that.

why is that?

 

[daveman]

Gonna level off a lot lower than that.

why is that?

The seas are going to rise a half mile and drown us all.

 

[ScienceRocks]

The truth of the matter is--- we lost sight ! We turned tail in ran away from anything but low orbit space for 40 years. How the fuck could anyone see that coming? After the 1950's-1960's, we did everything in our power to make it so, but we lost that vision in the 1970's with piss poor leadership that tied our hands as a nation. Selling us out!

We could of had that space station! For the reasons of between the resources of space in the simple fact that 100 billion a year is 1/7th of our defense budget. When did it become more important to have a defense budget more then all the other nations combined over science?..Well, if we budgetted better, you bet your ass we could of had it. One of the spin off of such would of been more advance military tech...
We could of been mining the moon as a nation that's 2, 3, 5 times the gdp of today! Instead we signed a treaty that prevents us from touching any of the resources. We have also put red tape, after pieces of red tape on everything! Flying cars? Well, they're possible, but good luck getting such to market or making it legal to take off the highway with.

We have become a nation that only cares about war, war and more war instead of advancing our selves. Always other people! Even if they don't want us in their lands or outright hates our guts. We nation build, spending trillions of dollars, rather then spend it on our selfs.

We just elected the single most anti-space president in Barack Obama in you wonder why "after going to the moon over a dozen times", why we can't even lunch men into space? It's NOT that we don't have the tech, but we don't have the vision as China did 500-800 years ago with their navy and explorers. Turning inwards on our selfs. We don't act like a nation that wants to lead!

We don't deserve to be a super power as we no longer wish to be one and I hope China takes the torch with getting humanity back to the moon, mars and further. We have become a very sad nation. There is no reason for us turning tail in running away from what we did. For our mistakes within the next few years China will pass us as a leader in science.

 

[FA_Q2]

All right, that was a good post Matthew to be honest and I rarely point out spelling but you repeat it so many damn times. For some reason it was bothering me:
Selfs should actually be Selves
lol