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Author Topic:   The Goldilocks Zone
Phat
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Posts: 18633
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 4.1


Message 1 of 6 (679326)
11-12-2012 11:22 AM


What are the implications in finding such a planet? Will our focus be more on contacting life there or on finding a future home for ourselves?
Is it even currently feasible to ever reach such a place or have them reach us? Can space money be better spent?
Somewhere in the science forums, please...

Replies to this message:
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Message 2 of 6 (679328)
11-13-2012 11:40 AM


Thread Copied from Proposed New Topics Forum
Thread copied here from the The Goldilocks Zone thread in the Proposed New Topics forum.

  
1.61803
Member (Idle past 1754 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 3 of 6 (679332)
11-13-2012 11:49 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Phat
11-12-2012 11:22 AM


I feel that if humanity is to ever survive we will have to find a back up plan. If we do not end up causing our own demise by war or pollution, we will possibly be annihilated by a asteroid or some other unforeseen event. Barring that, this planet has a life expectancy tied to our sun's fuel supply.
I feel that space exploration is some of the best money we can invest, as well as investing in education for our children who will be our future explorers.

"You were not there for the beginning. You will not be there for the end. Your knowledge of what is going on can only be superficial and relative" William S. Burroughs

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Coyote
Member (Idle past 2357 days)
Posts: 6117
Joined: 01-12-2008


(5)
Message 4 of 6 (679342)
11-13-2012 12:03 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Phat
11-12-2012 11:22 AM


Can space money be better spent?
While you worded it slightly differently, what is often asked is, "Should we be throwing money into space." As if the money goes up with the rockets...
That money stays right here, almost all in the US. If you look back a few decades and start counting the innovations that came from that money you might be surprised. Here is a partial list:
1 Health and medicine
1.1 Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
1.2 Infrared ear thermometers
1.3 Ventricular assist device
1.4 Artificial limbs
1.5 Invisible Braces
1.6 Scratch-resistant Lenses
2 Transportation
2.1 Aircraft anti-icing systems
2.2 Highway safety
2.3 Improved radial tires
2.4 Chemical detection
3 Public safety
3.1 Video enhancing and analysis systems
3.2 Fire-resistant reinforcement
3.3 Firefighting equipment
4 Consumer, home, and recreation
4.1 Temper foam
4.2 Enriched baby food
4.3 Portable cordless vacuums
4.4 Freeze drying
5 Environmental and agricultural resources
5.1 Water purification
5.2 Solar energy
5.3 Pollution remediation
6 Computer technology
6.1 Structural analysis software
6.2 Remotely controlled ovens
6.3 NASA Visualization Explorer
6.4 Space Race Blastoff
7 Industrial productivity
7.1 Powdered lubricants
7.2 Improved mine safety
7.3 Food safety
Source:
NASA spinoff technologies - Wikipedia
I note that micro-miniaturization is not on the list. That was an early innovation as our rockets had limited payload capacity, and everything had to be made smaller, lighter, and more durable.
Overall, "space money" in the past has been among the most productive money the government has spent.

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fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4396 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


(2)
Message 5 of 6 (679353)
11-13-2012 12:35 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Phat
11-12-2012 11:22 AM


Can space money be better spent?
I think that the commercialization of space flight could help in many ways, it would allow NASA and others to focus on things other than launch vehicles and the expense of developing them and their associated infrastructure and logistics. Doing that will allow money to be spent on the science and missions. Space X and Orbital Sciences Corporation, to name 2, are currently doing a great job in the privatization of spaceflight, IMHO.

Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'
― Isaac Asimov
"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them" - Ray Bradbury

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hooah212002
Member (Idle past 1052 days)
Posts: 3193
Joined: 08-12-2009


Message 6 of 6 (679372)
11-13-2012 3:06 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Phat
11-12-2012 11:22 AM


Can space money be better spent?
Can you elaborate on what, exactly, you mean by "space money"? In doing so, would you also like to point out how insignificant the amount of tax dollars are that goes towards space programs? NASA loses money every year, yet killing brown people gets massive increases. As do the paychecks of the people that authorize the killing of brown people.
No, "space money" is doing the best it can with what it's given. We need a million more Neil Degrasse Tyson's.

"Science is interesting, and if you don't agree you can fuck off." -Dawkins

This message is a reply to:
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