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Originally Posted by masterofpuppets
1 word:
Mythbusters
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Mythbusters proved we were there, if thats what you mean. The flag waving w/o friction was the biggest proof they made on their own. And apparently someone was nice enough to leave behind a reflector on the moon that we could bounce a laser off of if anyone doubted it.
Reason we don't go now despite knowing what we do is b/c the first time around was gamble after gamble; Apollo 13 proved that. We'd rather not use anything from Apollo and do it again from the ground up if given the opportunity.
Space exploration I think could pick up if we could get private industry involved. One big example is refining. You know how easy it can be to refine metals in zero g? Or maybe send large unmanned vehicles to the asteroid belt to mine metals we consider rare? If there was a profit to be made, I'm sure space exploration wouldn't be such a struggle. Yes there will be a hefty investment involved and the current CEO or what-not may not see any returns, but their successor will. Governments just have too many responsibilities placed upon them to give their space programs a generous budget.
A shame whats happened to the space program since Kennedy/Johnson, but I suppose without a reason to compete or to explore, many in power find it unimportant. Social programs are more important than science in the case of the current administration.
My input in this may be a bit biased since both my grandfathers were with NASA during Apollo and one with with them during the beginning of space shuttle.
Naming the lander Altair...witty.