The most AMAZING picture I've seen TAKEN OF ASTRONAUTS IN SPACE was on a piece of the my '07 Chicago Planetarium membership information I've recently received. It captures the true and humbling essence of a real HUMAN MOMENT IN OUTER SPACE. It shows an astronaut taking a picture of another astronaut at the space station during a space walk. The COSMOS can be seen CLEARLY in the background and also reflects off of the visor of the astronaut getting his/her picture taken. The Earth is just below them. Wanna see for yourself? Check out the attachment with this post. View full screen to see exactly what I'm talking about!  This brings me to my point:

Have you noticed the pictures and video shown of American astronauts in space are of them fixing something or floating around inside the Shuttle giving interviews with the interior lights on?

 

 Are NASAs astronauts exploring outer space while they are IN outer space? Or are they just construction workers whose only mission is to continue to build the space station, fix a broken satillite, telescope or broken Space Shuttle? They have several cameras on the Shuttle to check for any damage to the ship (which is understandable, but should be the LAST thing the astronauts should have to worry about! The Shuttle should have been retired long ago, and is now more of a liability and puts their lives at risk). Have you noticed when watching clips of them actually in space, there are NO STARS! NO MOON! NOTHING BUT THE THE EQUIPMENT AND, OF COURSE, THE EARTH BELOW? They also have several camera on the space station to serve a similar purpose, but why not have a camera facing the COSMOS? Can you imagine the view the astronauts have when they leave Earths atmosphere and enter outer space? Why not have a camera similar to what the police use basically riding shotgun and capture that moment? Why not have a Hi-Def video camera mounted to the station paning the cosmos IN REAL-TIME and showing it an hour a day on their NASA satillite channel to a little classical music? How about giving them time to spacewalk for an hour during their tour to take a few snapshots and explore for themselves, and also showing us what their experience is like along the way? Please understand, I'm taking nothing away with the incredible accomplishemnts by the twin Voyager craft, Mars Rovers or other un-manned missions. That is not the issue here.

The thing people fail to realize and the "experts" fail to admit when discussing human space flight is that MAN WAS NOT DESIGNED TO TRAVEL IN DEEP SPACE! Regardless of the technology used to TRY to protect an astronaut on a deep space mission, even a "short one" like a trip to Mars, they will certainly die of exposure to cosmic rays, radiation, and other dangers UNIMAGINABLE on a human scale! With that in mind, heres more food for thought: 

If lucky in our modern world, humans live to be 100 years old. Our Universe is guess-ta-mated by the worlds scientists to be about 13.7 billion years old and is still expanding in all directions. Stars are continuing to be created in vast stellar nurseries and star forming regions throughout the universe:

 Light travels in excess of 186,200 miles per second and in a years time, travels more than 5.88 trillion miles. With our current technology, using the Space Shuttle as an example, travelling at a sustained 25,000 miles per hour using the newest, state of the art technology, it would take us tens of thousands of years just to travel 1/10th of the way to our nearest star. On a Universal scale, a human life is a blink of an eye. 1 heart beat. A snap of a finger. Doesn't it seems like such a 'tease', in a sense, that we only get to

      see

 the cosmos and are only left to wonder? Now, I'm no scientist nor do I have a degree in astronomy, but my quest for the truth is second to none. By relentless studying, listening and learning with an open mind, creative thinking and by using common sense, I believe we are here for  a purpose and that there is no other planet in the universe like Earth!

The TRUTH is this: The ONLY reason humans are even able to walk in space is because our complex and invisible atmosphere extends into and protects us for a few hundred miles into outer space, aka 'Low-Earth Orbit.' That includes having a space station in orbit or anywhere in space where the Shuttle would or any manned craft from other countries would fly in.  

It is also such a waste of time to use irreplaceable resources to find 'intelligent life' that will talk back to us!

What do you think?

-Mr. Jackson

I totally appreciate where you are coming from on this. I am interested in shuttle launches, flights, missions etc. Same with the space station. But, just interested is about the limit.

Guys with construction tools in hand floating around, or playing with M&M's or water droplets for R&R does less and less to fascinate me. I was born in 1969, the pinacle year for manned space exploration. Of course there were true flights of exploration after 1969, but i was still too young to remember them. In short no astronaut has been an "explorer" in my living memory.

Astronauts on Skylab, primitive by comparison to the ISS managed to "explore" space with telescopes and collect valuable data. Not much seems to happen today. 

I just missed the golden age of astronaut explorers and adventurers. My space hero's whilst growing up were called Viking, and Voyager. That continues today with Spirit, Opportunity, Cassini, New Horizons, etc.

Todays astronauts spend their time "exploring" a place explored decades ago by Yuri Gagarin and John Glenn. Constructing a place so more people can boldly go where lots of people have gone before!

At the same time, their robot counterparts are finding evidence of seas on Titan, and on Mars, witnessing and recording massive volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io, flying around the moons of Saturn, driving into ancient crater's on Mars, taking stunning images of fascinating caves on Mars, they study the Sun, smash into comets, land on Asteroids, land on Titan, and so on. 

Until humans are ready to go into space with intent and until we have the technology to send them there safely, i would rather see every ounce of any space agency flight budget going towards real exploration, robotic exploration.

We will not unlearn all we know about long duration manned space flights, all the data has been gathered and logged.  We do not need a space station to launch a manned mission to the Moon or Mars. I shudder to think how much money has been spent on Shuttle flights ( a white elephant of a launch vehicle which costs a incredible and unjustifiable amount to fly and maintain. ) , and on the Space Station, how much money has been unavailable for real missions into space? How much science, how much discovery, how much knowledge have we missed out on? What wonderous sights have we been deprived of as a result of this manned flight policy? Do manned flight properly, or don't bother.

i hear things like "the public would lose interest if no humans went into space" I have been involved in space advocacy for many years. I speak to the "public" i can tell you they are more excited about Hubble images, about Mars Rovers, and the potential for space telescopes to find new worlds than they are with dull shuttle flights to the ISS. 

My 2 cents.  lol

IntrepidDJ,

Apparently, you aren't familiar with the ISSAT.

Dave Mitsky 

Anth-Martian,

I couldn't agree more!

Dave Mitsky

Hi Dave-

Thanks for the link to the ISSAT website and for taking the time to leave at least a little feedback. At this point, the telescope is still in its testing stages. Its an idea that is still not yet realized. As mentioned in my comments, I'm talking about video and pictures shown on t.v ., NASAs satillite t.v. channel and online sites. There are no pictures or video taken by a Shuttle camera or, for example, a picture taken by an astronaut aboard the station during his/her first visit and view of the cosmos from outer space.

 -Mr. Jackson

 

Anth-Martian,

Thanks for your post and taking the time to leave your 2 cents. We've come a long way since 1969, and with todays technology and since we basically watch the Shuttle take off for the ISS and come home, NASA should be using their state of the art equipment to creatively show the human element of space exploration.

 -Mr. Jackson

Great post IntrepidDJ

Sounds like you want a reality TV show based on space exploration. I doubt MTV or VH1 would air such a show. FOX, on the other hand......

Doberman :

 (Tipping my hat to you.) Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback.

-Mr. Jackson

 

Kickworm,

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and leave feedback. I'm not interested in making just another 'reality tv' show. I'm a man of the truth and have followed NASA since I was a kid (just turned 33) and am sick and tired of the boring things they do nowadays. If they really want to re-capture the imagination of Americans, they don't need an IMPOSSIBLE trip to Mars...all they need to do is use todays amazing technology in creative and fresh ways.

-Mr. Jackson

IntrepidDJ wrote:

If they really want to re-capture the imagination of Americans, they don't need an IMPOSSIBLE trip to Mars...all they need to do is use todays amazing technology in creative and fresh ways.

I completely agree.  I've wondered about this myself and personally, I get frustrated when I come across shows about going to Mars which seem like they're on all the time. 

 Maybe NOVA could dedicated a separate weekly program devoted just to Astronomy.

I always liked watching Jack Horkhimer.  Last night we were cruising through Digital Cable and I said "Turn it to the Astronomy Channel." in jest.  I wish we had one. 

Starry 

Hi Starry-

 Thanks very much for taking the time to leave feedback It is truly disapointing that with the thousands of satilite and cable channels available, there is not an 'Astronomy Channel.'  If you'd really like to see a great and very informative lecture and study of the cosmos, I'd highly recommend checking out Louie Giglios 'Indescribeable' on DVD. His company is called  'Passion House.' It is, hands down, the best and most informative piece I've seen when it comes to realizing our humbling place in the Universe. If you plan to buy it (I'd recommend anyone interested in the study of the Cosmos to buy and watch it.) I must warn you, though, that the Creators name is mentioned thoughout for those who may not believe in a higher power. Taking nothing away from your knowledge or background, you will have to set aside your doubts and watch it with an open mind. It is totally mind blowing and there is simply no better program on the Cosmos anywhere. Just Google 'Louie Giglio Indescribable' for a link to a site to order it.

-Mr. Jackson

 Thanks for the tip IntrepidDJ.

  There are many planets like Earth in the galaxy.  100s of thousands, Millions.

 We are here for no purpose other than the purposes we create.

  Man can explore the galaxy with robotic probes, and will eventually travel to Mars, and other solar systems.

 We in the US could have done much more the last 30 years if we dedicated funds for space and science.  NASA runs on 18 bilion a year.  Projects get delayed,. stripped down, and cancelled all the time.

   The funds for these projects (Moon, Mars, Interstellar probes, large telescopes (Earth and Space based) would require a budget of about 25-30 billion a year for 15-20 years.  International cooperation could reduce the cost.

  This is 1% of our defense budget.  The problem is not one of human limitation, but a limit of the political will of the American people and the myopia of our leadership.  Given the statistics on our educational system, it might be futlie to expect more.   The US has 1 Trillion dollars of  discretionary spending Each year.  1/2 + of this goes to military spending.

  We don't have to settle for T.V. fantasy, and pacifying dreams of the far off future.  But we do.  For me, this is the only mystery of the so-called space age.

IntrepidDJ:

It is truly disapointing that with the thousands of satilite and cable channels available, there is not an 'Astronomy Channel.' 

 

I agree 100% ! I think the people of Earth should be informed that there is something out there other then our planet. I'm not saying we should go zoom out to the nearest star right now- because that would take forever with our current technology, but I do think people should be more informed about the universe. This is how everything started - from space - then the planets and galaxies..etc, we know a lot about our earth (at least some people do) we humans, are possibly the only living beings throughout MANY or maybe even ALL of the galaxies of the universe. It should be an absolute necessity that we learn as much as we can about space, otherwise..when the our time is gone - it'll be like we wasted all our time on something small (the earth) compared to something supremely vast as the universe. We shouldn't just sit around on earth, I know I can never do that, everytime I look at the sky I'm just  itching to discover another thing after another. What if there were other living creatures out there? Do we really want to just sit around on earth with out realizing that something out there may change the idea of our lone living planet forever?! I don't know about other people, but I can't stand the fact that we may be the only living organisms in the whole universe.. it makes me feel somewhat lonely =/ That is why, I believe we should always keep searching and expand our knowledge every step of the way. - I do believe anything is possible if we try hard enough..

BTW it pisses me off that NASA doesn't get paid enough to be able to conduct more research 

Hi Cyberpatzer-

Thanks very much for your feedback. I can tell by reading your replies to my post and others that you are a well educated man. Its a shame,however, that you lack fundamental common sense and make baseless claims without unbiased proof. Anyone can SAY that there are millions of Earth-like planets amongst the vast number of extra-solar planets in our own Milky Way and that deep space travel is possible IF we had the money to do it. But, when it comes to human space flight, money don't matter!

Its a matter of fact that there are dangers in deep space that human minds can't begin to fathom, because they are on such a mind-boggling large scale!

-Mr. Jackson

Hi Sci-nerd:

(Tipping my hat to you) Thanks very much for your feedback. You are absolutely right as well. We should learn as much as we can about the Cosmos while we are still living on this planet. From my studies, I believe without doubt, that humans are unique in the universe and there is no other 'Earths' out there. It is truly a universal crown jewel. If we are the only beings in a vast, endless cosmos it should make everyone living in this day and age realize that we aren't here as a fluke...we must be here for a purpose...something much bigger than we are and much bigger than our human minds can fathom.

Here's more food for thought: The human brain is the most complex organism in the Cosmos, and with it, we've created machines that can measure distances and sizes of various stars (some much more massive than our Sun), massive black holes, and neutron stars which emit so much energy we couldn't get within light years of some of them even if we could travel to the stars. So, would it really be a surprise if there is an unrealized purpose for mankind, in this vast Universe?

-Mr. Jackson

Marcy--1/2 the team that discovered the first exoplanet in 1995, and considered an authority in the field, estimates the number of terrestrial exoplanets in our galaxy (appox. 200 billion stars) at 50 billion.  To say that hundreds of thousands to millions of these are earth-like (in habitable zones and with liquid water) is an informed extrapolation/guess.  It is much more founded on fact that some fanciful claim that we are unique.  There is much evidence pointing to the contrary.

  Please consult the various texts regarding interstellar spaceprobes:  orion/Daedalus, TAU interstellar precuror.  These are detailed designs within our established physics and engineering understanding.  The funding is required to build them, not to begin work on a feasibility study.  Money most certainly matters.

   As far as human space travel, the dangers are clear: radiation, the long term effects of 0 gravity on the human body, psychological effects of separation from Earth/ other human beings for extended periods in a confined living space, and the practical matters of micron sized dust to mile wide asteroids destoying a spacecraft, and, of course, mechanical failure.

  These are not vauge generalities or due to "mind-boggling scale", but conrete dangers that can be studied, anticipated, and allowed for.  Yes, spacetravel is dangerous, but it is not impossible.  We have fathomed it quite well, without any "outside" assistance, thank you.

 

   You can read about these things in mainstream  astronomy, astrophysics, and engineering journals and books from established, credentialed authors.

  If I am educated--and I am-- it is only becuase I did the reading.  And please, never wish on me "common" sense!!!   I've worked too hard for that!

 

  Regards from Tuscon, Arizona and Dark, Dark Skies!!!!!  More later...Start the warp drive Scotty!
 

 

Cyberpatzer-

Once again, your response shows your ignorance to the TRUTH! NO technology developed by humanity, regardless of what it costs, will get us there alive, whether its to Mars or one of our nearest stars! Its known by all the 'experts' in astronomy: You leave Low-Earth Orbit, you die.

The numbers and the facts don't lie! No amount of heresey or 'research' will convince me otherwise!

Sending a manned ship into deep space is like loading up ants in a tin can with bottle rockets and trying to cross a vast, uncharted ocean.

Mr. Jackson

IntrepidDJ:

Cyberpatzer-

Once again, your response shows your ignorance to the TRUTH! NO technology developed by humanity, regardless of what it costs, will get us there alive, whether its to Mars or one of our nearest stars! Its known by all the 'experts' in astronomy: You leave Low-Earth Orbit, you die.

The numbers and the facts don't lie! No amount of heresey or 'research' will convince me otherwise!

Sending a manned ship into deep space is like loading up ants in a tin can with bottle rockets and trying to cross a vast, uncharted ocean.

Mr. Jackson

Mr. Jackson,

Could you provide some sources for the facts you claim above.  I know that a manned mission to Mars would be fraught with hardships, but I've never seen anything that has said it would be impossible.  I tend to agree with you on intersteller travel, but a human outreach into our own solar system seems plausible to me.  Your analogy of manned exploration being like "loading up ants in a tin can . . ." pretty much describes the Mercury and Apollo projects.  I have a lot of faith in human kind's ability to create problem solving technology, that's a demonstrated fact.  So I would be very interested in the numbers and facts you mention.

Just saying that "You leave Low-Earth Orbit, you die" sounds too much like the anchient seafarers maps which claimed "Beyond here there be Dragons".