Comments on: The Economics of Space http://www.opennasa.com/2009/10/26/the-economics-of-space/ Your NASA, My NASA, OUR NASA Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:03:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mike D http://www.opennasa.com/2009/10/26/the-economics-of-space/comment-page-1/#comment-37854 Mike D Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:35:34 +0000 http://www.opennasa.com/?p=1258#comment-37854 Mine asteroids for rare metals = $$$ (1 asteroid=up to 7trillion US$) We settled the west for gold I think we should settle the moon and space for rare platinum group metals and He3. That is tangible cost/reward outcomes anyone can understand. Technology has an ever expanding hunger for these commodities and so do global markets. I see space and all the money signs keep blocking out the stars, why cant NASA catch the drift. Also building a space elevator to facilitate the monopolization of cheap access to GEO and capitalize on commercial utilization. These things call out to the cowboys in us all. Theres gold in them hills I tell ya GOLD!!! Mine asteroids for rare metals = $$$ (1 asteroid=up to 7trillion US$) We settled the west for gold I think we should settle the moon and space for rare platinum group metals and He3. That is tangible cost/reward outcomes anyone can understand. Technology has an ever expanding hunger for these commodities and so do global markets. I see space and all the money signs keep blocking out the stars, why cant NASA catch the drift. Also building a space elevator to facilitate the monopolization of cheap access to GEO and capitalize on commercial utilization. These things call out to the cowboys in us all. Theres gold in them hills I tell ya GOLD!!!

]]> By: Rolando Quintanilla http://www.opennasa.com/2009/10/26/the-economics-of-space/comment-page-1/#comment-31993 Rolando Quintanilla Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:00:54 +0000 http://www.opennasa.com/?p=1258#comment-31993 I agree with Erik that "maybe someday" is not a good enough reason for the average person. I had a talk with my cousin this weekend (who I would consider a good representation of the general public) and I concluded some of the arguments we are making for space are not very good. Exploration, for example, is a terrible reason to people who are looking for a job or are struggling to make it. Yet, exploration is the number one reason that is given. When we go into space we push ourselves (humans) to extremes that we are not use to. That pushes those in NASA to solve problems that are not apparent and couldn't be solved on earth. NASA solves Tomorrow’s problems Today! I agree with Erik that “maybe someday” is not a good enough reason for the average person. I had a talk with my cousin this weekend (who I would consider a good representation of the general public) and I concluded some of the arguments we are making for space are not very good. Exploration, for example, is a terrible reason to people who are looking for a job or are struggling to make it. Yet, exploration is the number one reason that is given.

When we go into space we push ourselves (humans) to extremes that we are not use to. That pushes those in NASA to solve problems that are not apparent and couldn’t be solved on earth.

NASA solves Tomorrow’s problems Today!

]]> By: Erik Evenson http://www.opennasa.com/2009/10/26/the-economics-of-space/comment-page-1/#comment-31822 Erik Evenson Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:08:16 +0000 http://www.opennasa.com/?p=1258#comment-31822 When you are proposing to spend tens of billions of taxpayer dollars over several years, you need to have something more sophisticated to say about the return on that investment than "maybe someday." You also need to use examples that have something to do with human spaceflight. When you are proposing to spend tens of billions of taxpayer dollars over several years, you need to have something more sophisticated to say about the return on that investment than “maybe someday.”

You also need to use examples that have something to do with human spaceflight.

]]> By: Michael Doornbos http://www.opennasa.com/2009/10/26/the-economics-of-space/comment-page-1/#comment-31816 Michael Doornbos Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:58:45 +0000 http://www.opennasa.com/?p=1258#comment-31816 While I agree that the innovations that we have benefited in part or wholly in because of spaceflight are great, it's very difficult to sell future intangibles as a financial reason to do anything. The by products of a healthy space program are great, but you have to have have a primary reason to do them and then be delighted when the other reasons reveal themselves. While I agree that the innovations that we have benefited in part or wholly in because of spaceflight are great, it’s very difficult to sell future intangibles as a financial reason to do anything.

The by products of a healthy space program are great, but you have to have have a primary reason to do them and then be delighted when the other reasons reveal themselves.

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