|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
165.109.1.240
In Reply to: RE: The manned space program . . . posted by caspian@peak.org on March 15, 2011 at 21:43:08
The manned space program was sublimated military competition/boasting.
The technology and logistics to propel a manned space program---and in particular put a large payload into orbit in the right place and right time---are the same as that necessary to put a warhead on-target on the USSR.
In particular the technological requirements for compact communication and especially embedded computation in the manned space program have immediate applications in weaponry.
The logistical efforts necessary to run a large space program are equivalent to the same necessary to run a large technological military program.
The USSR believed, correctly, for some time, that they were substantially ahead in that area. It was necessary to demonstrate that it wasn't true.
Follow Ups:
Our German Scientists were much better than THEIR German Scientists.
Too much is never enough
I tend to agree with you except on a single vital point.
OUR German Scientists were better than THEIR Geman scientists.
VonBraun made sure to be captured by US.
The Russian effort to build a Saturn5 type rocket failed miserably.
Too much is never enough
Actually I didn't say that.
"Our" German scientists were better than their German scientists.
Their Russian scientists were better than our American scientists until the mid 1960's.
The project summary of the US Army's 1959 plan to place a military base on the moon by 1965!
http://astronautix.com/articles/prorizon.htm
In May 1961, just as Kennedy had decided that NASA should put an American on the moon, the US Air Force released a secret report, summarizing the result of years of planning to place a military base on the moon by 1967.
http://www.astronautix.com/articles/lunex.htm
The X40 {X37B} is supposed to be a weapons launch machine for the military. It will carry military payloads and repair military satellites soon. It's also rumored that it will be the "Star Wars" shuttle to bring "pulsar" family Lasers into orbit for anti-missile protections fired with nuclear power plants.
"Filmed from the Kennedy Space Center press site with a cellphone, from the top roof of the CBS News building. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched the Air Force's Orbital Test Vehicle, X-37B OTV-1, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This video was taken from the NASA KSC press site facility on top of the CBS building, about 4 miles from the launch pad. The liftoff and ascent were spectacular, just after sunset."
The next generation of NASA craft will likely be electric craft that they've been working on since the 90's. The idea is to use a pulsing laser to cause the propellants of atmospheric oxygen and hydrogen to intermix with onboard fuel and greatly enhance lift dynamics. These will be single stage craft that will not carry much {if any} payload, only passengers. We have a thousand or more Titan missiles to use that we have to pull Nuclear warheads off for launching payloads. Plus who knows how many Navy missiles that are in subs.
The next face of NASA is likely to look expensive, futuristic, and far out!
http://www.google.com/search?q=Electric+space+propulsion
Edits: 03/20/11
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: