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  Is NASA becoming boring?

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Author Topic:   Is NASA becoming boring?
Fra Mauro
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Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
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posted 03-26-2012 08:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fra Mauro   Click Here to Email Fra Mauro     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Another question for discussion! Is NASA becoming boring?

No specific manned mission, just vague promises about some distant asteroid, on some yet-to-be-named crew vehicle and a launch vehicle on the drawing board.

Go4Launch
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From: Seminole, Fla.
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posted 03-26-2012 08:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Go4Launch   Click Here to Email Go4Launch     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From a manned perspective, yes; certainly for the public, I agree that it is at minimum "becoming" boring if not there already. Yet the agency has a fair number of interplanetary probes operating. The upcoming Curiosity Mars landing will be quite stunning if successful.

issman1
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posted 03-26-2012 09:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for issman1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't think the NASA of 2012 has exclusivity on whether or not it is boring.

Americans found Apollo rather boring quickly too, unless I'm not mistaken, and most don't seem to care or know about current planetary missions. But I'm sure they know all there is to know about their favourite celebrities, TV shows and sports.

Then again, as a foreigner and optimist, I view NASA as something to cling to for hope for a better tomorrow even if today it is not in the realm of what sci-fi movies and series project.

David Carey
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posted 03-27-2012 12:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David Carey   Click Here to Email David Carey     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't want to sound like a NASA apologist but as much as I'd like manned missions to get rolling again for the "excitement factor" there are significant budgetary constraints in play, and manned space flight is extraordinarily expensive business.

The at-times-halting plans for future human exploration are still being worked and there are many fascinating (IMO) unmanned activities underway. Dig below the headlines and I'd argue very un-boring things can still be found in our space program.

NASA could probably be doing more with what they have, and I suspect public-private partnerships are part of any future improvements in efficiency, but I'm not really qualified to offer concrete/detailed suggestions on that front. Perhaps a topic for a different thread.

Let me turn the question around however: Are people becoming boring?

I worry less about any NASA yawn factor than about people being blasé regarding their universe.

Spaceguy5
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From: Pampa, TX, US
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posted 03-27-2012 12:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Spaceguy5   Click Here to Email Spaceguy5     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Spaceflight might be expensive, but the government's budget has a -lot- of money in it. I do think NASA could handle/should get a budget increase. It's just a matter of convincing the government to stop spending money in areas that should either (1) Refine their spending or (2) Stop spending money all together.

I think Neil deGrasse Tyson put it pretty nicely.

NASA right now does seem pretty 'boring' in terms of how little they seem to be doing and especially how little PR they're getting. But I am glad to see NASA embracing social media more, a fantastic example here.

moorouge
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posted 03-27-2012 02:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for moorouge   Click Here to Email moorouge     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
Another question for discussion! Is NASA becoming boring?
I think the replies so far are an excellent example of the right answer to this question. It depends on how one defines 'boring'.

What is boring to one is not necessarily boring to another. I suspect that the factors involved might where one places the importance of the various aspects of space exploration and where this emphasis should be within the constraints of national budget requirements.

cspg
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posted 03-27-2012 06:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Boring? I don't know. How many follow what's going on the ISS on a daily basis?

cspg
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posted 03-27-2012 06:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
No specific manned mission, just vague promises about some distant asteroid, on some yet-to-be-named crew vehicle and a launch vehicle on the drawing board.

Is this NASA's fault?

Tykeanaut
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From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
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posted 03-27-2012 07:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tykeanaut   Click Here to Email Tykeanaut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Boring, I don't know? Disappointing, then yes. It's also a shame that momentum in manned spaceflight is being lost and the chance to try and engage a future generation in this fantastic subject.

alanh_7
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From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
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posted 03-27-2012 08:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for alanh_7   Click Here to Email alanh_7     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would never find it boring. But it seems we on this forum are the minority. My family does not get my interest in aviation and space either. I guess it's one of those things that either you have the interest or you don't.

Even at the breakneck speed of the moon program in the 60s (I am old enough to remember it) the majority still did not have more than a passing interest in the long term.

The lack of funding, and clear goals also does not help. The idea of commercial spaceflight may inspire some, but Earth orbit is Earth orbit and the majority do not know the difference between a space shuttle a Dragon or Apollo Spacecraft and really don't care.

It's hard for the average person to support a program with no clear goal, and with political types that keep changing the focus,and underfund it does not help to inspire.

Fra Mauro
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From: Bethpage, N.Y.
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posted 03-27-2012 09:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fra Mauro   Click Here to Email Fra Mauro     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't find it boring but disappointing is a good term. For those who loved the manned program, this time is a bit of a letdown. When NASA needs another administrator sometime, I hope deGrasse Tyson is asked. On second thought, the politicians wouldn't like an outspoken space advocate in that job.

Jay Chladek
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From: Bellevue, NE, USA
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posted 03-27-2012 02:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay Chladek   Click Here to Email Jay Chladek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
On second thought, the politicians wouldn't like an outspoken space advocate in that job.
Well, Bush got it when his administration asked for Dan Goldin to take the job. Sure we got saddled with "Faster, Better, Cheaper" but Goldin at the time did help make NASA more exciting for those years he was the administrator. He was charismatic, had a good voice and spoke from experience. He also stood up to the Russians at Energia when they wanted to bypass Roscosmos and only deal direct as a contractor on Mir and ISS.

Tyson has a lot of those qualities and I believe it would be a good thing, but he does strike me a bit as more of an industry outsider. He's a great cheerleader and when he talks, people listen. But Goldin had 25 years of experience at TRW to back up his points and he knew how to play political hardball with the best of them, both in front of and behind the scenes.

As to the question of NASA and boring, I don't know if I can define my feelings for it. When I read about something new NASA has done, I eagerly read the reports and devour the information. But at the same time, since shuttle's retirement I don't quite have the same desire to make visits to JSC or KSC anymore. Until KSC begins flying manned spacecraft again, it is going to almost feel like an ancient burial ground to me, or a monument to what once was as opposed to what can still be. When you went down there at the times when shuttles were flying at least during the last six years, the energy was just palpable. Everyone had a little more spring in their step, even if they didn't directly work for the space program. People were living more in the moment, even if only for a little while.

Regardless of anything NASA does these days, until people launch into orbit from US Soil again (be it on a commercial spacecraft or a government funded one), I don't see NASA's broad appeal as going up anytime soon. Thanks to the lawmakers in DC, NASA has no control over its destiny (or is perceived as not having control even though we know things are still going on behind the scenes).

DChudwin
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posted 03-27-2012 07:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The ISS is supposed to be a National Laboratory but is has been under-utilized for scientific research. Where it can play an exciting role is as a testbed for a manned mission to Mars — refueling in space, long duration flight, radiation protection etc.

On the unmanned side, NASA is definitely NOT boring. MESSENGER is orbiting Mercury. LRO and GRAIL are sending back information about the Moon. Opportunity is still going on Mars and Curiosity is on the way. Juno is headed for orbit around Jupiter. Cassini continues to amaze with discoveries of Saturn and its moons. And New Horizons is more than half way to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.

It would be nice to have a time certain goal for manned flight beyond low earth orbit but this is not going to happen soon with NASA getting, in constant dollars, a tenth of the money it received at the height of Apollo.

Fra Mauro
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From: Bethpage, N.Y.
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posted 03-27-2012 08:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fra Mauro   Click Here to Email Fra Mauro     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Some of the boring factor is NASA's fault. I have always felt that they undersold themselves to the public. While adminstrators like Golden knew the tech side, few have been the Cheerleader-type. NASA needs that now more than ever.

Jay, I agree with you. Until manned flights come from the US again, it won't be the same. I sometimes think we manned space enthusiasts are like WWII vets. Lots of stories and memories but it's over.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 03-27-2012 08:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
Until manned flights come from the US again...
Launches are like book covers: they are by their very nature attention-grabbers and, as demonstrated by comments such as the above, they sell many on the content to follow. But you know what they say about books and their covers, right?

In my opinion, NASA hasn't become any more or less boring than it's ever been. The public however, has developed a shorter and shorter attention span, to the point that if it isn't happening right now, it's boring.

Even worse, even if it is happening right now, if it's been done before (or even perceived as being done before) then it's just as boring.

Even Neil deGrasse Tyson can't turn that attitude around.

Space travel and exploration as a spectator sport is 95% boring and 5% fire, explosions and pretty pictures. And that's not going to change. The only way to make it constantly exciting is to be aboard the spacecraft itself, and even then, there are times when flying through space isn't a constant adrenalin rush.

The regolith will always be grayer (or redder) on the other side. Land on the moon and spend more than a few days there and the majority of the public will lose interest and pine for Mars. Land on Mars and spend more than a few days sending back pretty pictures, and the public will just as quickly turn away (just compare the initial bursts of worldwide attention when the Mars rovers landed to a typical day, eight years later).

And who says NASA needs to be exciting? Since when was entertainment a requirement for exploration and science? How exciting do you think it is at McMurdo Station (Antarctica) on a day to day basis? Why is that station worthwhile (or at least, rarely contested) but the ISS derided? And does anyone ever pay attention to whose airplane U.S. scientists use to arrive on the frozen continent?

Mike Dixon
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From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
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posted 03-28-2012 01:02 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Dixon   Click Here to Email Mike Dixon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DChudwin:
On the unmanned side, NASA is definitely NOT boring. MESSENGER is orbiting Mercury. LRO and GRAIL are sending back information about the Moon. Opportunity is still going on Mars and Curiosity is on the way. Juno is headed for orbit around Jupiter. Cassini continues to amaze with discoveries of Saturn and its moons. And New Horizons is more than half way to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.
Could not agree more... and every time you post a link to images from unmanned ops. I read 'em... and I commend you for those efforts.

cspg
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posted 03-28-2012 01:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Space travel and exploration as a spectator sport is 95% boring and 5% fire, explosions and pretty pictures.

And such is life in general. So NASA wasn't, isn't and never will be boring.

Fezman92
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posted 03-28-2012 07:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fezman92   Click Here to Email Fezman92     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mike Dixon:
Could not agree more... and every time you post a link to images from unmanned ops. I read 'em...
Same here. When I told my friends about Curiosity they had this "ok whatever" reply but when I showed them a photo of it and told them that it was basically a car sized nuclear reactor with wheels and a laser beam on it then they got interested.

onesmallstep
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posted 03-30-2012 09:23 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for onesmallstep   Click Here to Email onesmallstep     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
While I agree with the majority of the posts so far, I would modify the question to ask, "Is space exploration becoming boring?" This is only because (here in the US, at least) NASA is space exploration to almost all people. Of course, we at cS know the achievements of ESA, Russia, Japan and now China to balance the picture.

For a long while, NASA could get by on a solid string of successes starting with Apollo 11 and continuing up to the retirement of shuttle. Yes, unmanned missions do go unheralded and are not quite as dramatic as crewed flights, but they are exciting all the same. With Curiosity next year, this may be the last time the public can get excited about a Mars landing since Viking; sadly, the recent announcement that Mars exploration will be cut back does not bode well for the future.

As for that future, I saw a little of that when I toured the ongoing exhibit 'Beyond Planet Earth: The Future of Space Exploration' at New York's American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). In a review I emailed a curator of an Australian science museum, I pointed out that it was important to engage the public in a clear vision of man's future in space based on past achievements and realistic goals. Asteroid rendezvous; bases on the Moon; Martian terraforming and deep-space missions may all be exciting goals but they first have to be grounded in political, budgetary — and yes — social realities.

But if there is one indication of a hopeful future for space travel — and NASA — today, I found it among the young people who sat in the front rows at the AMNH in New York last year as the STS-135 crew spoke about their mission. If anything, their questions and the looks on their faces spoke volumes about the ability of spaceflight to capture their imaginations and inspire some of them to be the next leaders — and explorers — who do go beyond planet Earth.

moorouge
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posted 03-30-2012 10:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for moorouge   Click Here to Email moorouge     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by onesmallstep:
For a long while, NASA could get by on a solid string of successes starting with Apollo 11 and continuing up to the retirement of shuttle.

Oh! the faded glories of Mercury and Gemini, long forgotten and outcast by the cosmic memory of youth.

dogcrew5369
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posted 05-03-2012 04:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dogcrew5369   Click Here to Email dogcrew5369     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'd have to say NASA is the only government agency that is not boring. Who could watch Health & Human Services Select channel?

I would have to say it is a little less interesting watching Soyuz rather than shuttles fly.

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