Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 04, 2012, 15:36:45 PM
So you're dismissing any future missions to space or other planets because you think we've done enough from those preceeding it? I'm not just talking about Mars, I'm talking about all aerospace and space exploration.

If you were any more short-sighted and blinkered you would be need a forum guide dog and tbh I think you're the one trolling the thread from your original post, I can't see any other explanation for it seeing as you haven't provided a single substantial response to show anything 'sport science' has bought to the table greater than any of the accomplishments listed above - which yes I did regurgitate as I'm not going to spend hours reading through to argue something that should be obvious to most people.

Again, just becuase you seem to be missing the big picture completely, here's a shortlist of advancements and technology spin-offs from NASA et al of which a large majority are medical:

• Miniaturized integrated circuits
• Satellite technology
• GPS navigation systems
• bone-density measurements
• miniaturized heart pumps/the artificial heart
• The implantable insulin pump
• scratch-resistant lenses for eyeglasses
• better water filtration systems that turn wastewater into drinkable water
• wireless light switches
• high-performance, biodegradable lubricants used in sport equipment and cars
• Nitinol used in dental braces
• remediation solutions for sites contaminated by chemicals
• hand-held infra-red cameras used by firefighters
• Prosthesis materials
• Video stabilization software
• the development of Liquidmetal and sensors on reconnaissance robots used in Afghanistan and Iraq to deal with IEDs.
• held Jaws of Life
• insulation materials used everywhere including our homes
• The Hubble Space telescope

That's just a small short list overall, you can do your own research into the above and more if you don't believe it. I won't bother presenting any more arguments as you clearly have your mind made up.

Oh and FWIW, dying for your sport is not dying for the benefit of mankind, it's dying for yourself.

Nope you're getting the wrong end of the stick.

I'm saying that the Olympics is more than a glorified sports day.

You on the other hand seem to want to justify the existence of space exploration, clue: it doesn't need to be justified in this thread.

In the grand scheme of things I think that the olympics will do more for mankind than a few billion spent on a space mission to land a toy car on mars.

Dying at work due to someones negligence isn't dying for mankind, it's poor health and safety or quality controls.

Quote from: Beanissocoollike on August 04, 2012, 16:09:16 PM

Quote from: M3ta7h3ad on August 04, 2012, 08:26:44 AM

Cut space exploration completely, concentrate funds on getting our arses out of the worst recession we have ever experienced, then consider the options.

This was your argument. You can't come back and base your retorts on it 'not being about the Mars rover' You said they should cut space exploration completely. All Clock'd was doing was showing how much of a silly idea that was, you can't post something on the internet then immediately after try and say something completely different!

Fair enough, you like the Olympics, a lot of people do -  I suppose it's nicer to watch knowing it's not going to be you paying for it, it's going to be your children and their children who have to pay for something they didn't even get the pleasure to watch live.

That was what I'd do in this current situation, you appear to have missed the preceding comment saying I know what I would do.

Not changed the argument at all, if nige failed to read the post that's his cock up. My original point is that the olympics does more for us than a few billion spent on getting our own rover to mars, and should be considered to be more than a "glorified sports day". In actual fact it's as similar a massive generalisation as me calling the curiosity mission to mars a "toy car".

Fail to see how I won't be paying for it? Unless we magically don't pay any taxes for the next 50+ years?

Quote from: M3ta7h3ad on August 04, 2012, 08:26:44 AM

Quote from: Pete on August 02, 2012, 20:08:52 PM
I can't wait for this. If this goes well I think it's gonna be the next voyager, a real headliner for NASA.

We just spent ten billion on a glorified sports day when we could be doing this. Science and technology is our greatest achievement imo and if I was in charge I know what I'd be doing.

And you think science and technology does not exist in sport?

Doesn't have more relevance to healthcare or understanding the human body than a "glorified" remote control plane?

If I was in charge I know what I'd be doing.

Cut space exploration completely, concentrate funds on getting our arses out of the worst recession we have ever experienced, then consider the options.

The Olympics may be seen as a "big waste of money" by the general idiots but no other sporting event promotes scientific advancement or global harmony and equality than it.

You keep your massively expensive flying toy, I'll take the billions raised through tourism, the scientific breakthroughs that come from the extreme training regimes that athletes are put through and the massive moral boost given from watching your country compete on the global stage. Add in the massive steps forward made in racial and sex equality and you've got a complete package that kicks the arse out of your rocket ship.

Yes the rover is "cool" but ultimately the Olympics is more than the "glorified sports day" you call it.

QFE ( as folk are clearly being hotheaded any missing the tone and entire point of the above post)

Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 03, 2012, 23:51:45 PM

Quote from: XEntity on August 03, 2012, 16:19:52 PM

Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 03, 2012, 00:36:39 AM
We've had one rover on Mars already, we can do it again dagnabbit!

One that didn't end up in a pile of scrap metal?

Of course, where do you think all the Mars surface pictures came from?

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/mars/#/mars-spirit-landing_1076_600x450.jpg

By "we" I thought you meant the UK :-)

Edit - just read the rest, seriously guys?

One person makes a harmless comment, and you have nothing better to do than, take the whole thing out of context, this thread is about space travel (which is awesome), not about trolling or finding out the best way to point out how someone's opinion is wrong! (which isn't big, clever or progressing humanity one bit).

Give it a rest, I'm sure someone visiting here doesn't want to see this trivial bickering.

True, it may be getting hot headed I suppose, but I never mentioned the Olympics once until M3ta7h3ad brought it into the equation - edit: what Pete said doesn't need to derail the thread.

Fact is NASA and space exploration are both serving a very good purpose, if you don't agree then this isn't the thread for you/trolling and I won't be arguing that point any more.

Quote from: XEntity on August 04, 2012, 16:44:09 PM
Edit - just read the rest, seriously guys?

One person makes a harmless comment, and you have nothing better to do than, take the whole thing out of context, this thread is about space travel (which is awesome), not about trolling or finding out the best way to point out how someone's opinion is wrong! (which isn't big, clever or progressing humanity one bit).

Give it a rest, I'm sure someone visiting here doesn't want to see this trivial bickering.

Aww, I was just about to dig out the popcorn gif...

Quote from: zpyder on August 04, 2012, 18:46:44 PM

Quote from: XEntity on August 04, 2012, 16:44:09 PM
Edit - just read the rest, seriously guys?

One person makes a harmless comment, and you have nothing better to do than, take the whole thing out of context, this thread is about space travel (which is awesome), not about trolling or finding out the best way to point out how someone's opinion is wrong! (which isn't big, clever or progressing humanity one bit).

Give it a rest, I'm sure someone visiting here doesn't want to see this trivial bickering.

Aww, I was just about to dig out the popcorn gif...

*confiscates zpyder's popcorn*

You don't deserve it.

Tbh billions are spent on space research, but you never know what you will get out of it. There are plenty of things that the money might be spent on too. The problem is if you shut it down you are never going to get anywhere with the research, there will always be something more deserving.

As to Curiosity, it is a hell of a lot cheaper sending a rover to do the work then putting together a human based exploration mission. The rover will cost less than a tenth of that to send a human.

I think that it is important that we do space research, maybe not as important as medical but it might be eventually. Eventually there will be expansions beyond Earth - there has to be in order to safeguard humanity as a species and life from earth. That can only happen at a certain rate.

Remember, we spend billions on entertainment, films, records, shows, sporting events. All of those could be stopped tomorrow and the governments could force the effort into something more important, but they won't. It all comes from the idea of freedom.

Less than 20 hours to go, Curiosity is in Mars' gravity well. Given the distance covered and the area it has to land on, this is going to be much better than a hole in one!

QuoteThe day we stop exploring is the day we commit ourselves to live in a stagnant world, devoid of curiosity, empty of dreams.

I was thinking, surely they have video feeds all the time during these key stages? It'd be cool if they did, if they could release them to the public. I know that the process will take several hours for it to land, but it'd be kind of cool to be able to watch Mars get closer and closer. That, or just speed it up 10x at the boring points. Usually I've only ever seen a few frames or seconds once it's on the ground (if it didn't blow up) via the news on TV.

it takes 14min for the signal from the rover to get here, and I'm guessing it's pretty low bandwidth... they'll probably release something once it's landed...  it would be pretty cack if it crashed with a million people watching


don't know about this rover, but I remember reading about a satellite - can't remember the name of it now, it's the one which has gone out further than anything else has... anyway... it's transmitter to send signals back to earth is only 8watts... a single break light bulb is 12watts.... it's pretty crazy that something so weak can send signals back to earth, and all the super high res pics etc...

Yeah that satellite is in the asteroid belt outside our solar system now, I think it is still transmitting data back too, which is incredible really.

As for Curiosity, I know NASA is doing a 'livestream' of sorts for this landing but I don't know what the content of it will be, probably just live (15 mins behind) tracking announcements and a touchdown.

QuoteThe rover, tucked inside a protective shell, is due to begin its descent to the surface at 05:24 GMT, Monday (06:24 BST; 22:24 PDT, Sun).

A signal confirming it has landed inside a deep depression known as Gale Crater is expected on Earth about seven minutes later, at 05:31 GMT

Not a good time to be up and watching it unfortunately.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19078494

Touchdown!!!

You can still see it on their live feed, I'm watching it now

Woot, not sure what will come from it but hey its still cool!