IDM Mailing Archive

I'm sorry about yesterday's rant against Nasa..the point that space travel is dangerous wasn't considered in my (lack of an) argument. I was forced to do tear sheets for the ad agency ( I work in ads) yesterday and had to read one after another of these "Could the Trajedy be Avoided" type stories in the local press. It seemed, like other individuals, my opinion was swayed when I had to read over and over again about super heated air tearing the craft apart and bringing death fairly quickly to the Astronauts. It just made me think of the space shuttle like some unsafe seventies model car, that should've improved. And if we can get 90 billion dollars to have a war with Iraq when our country is 300 billion in the hole. It just seems like we should of had some new ones. But, we didn't because everyone seems fine with things the way they are. I know Nasa's been hurtin' for funds lately and I shouldn't knock'em, I just hope some new technology will emerge shortly (maybe feild propulsion) because if the guidance and safety systems could take a larger chunk of the cash than they do today (instead of the money going to massive amounts of fuel) then we'd have greater control over the safety of the crew. But what the Hell do I know, I'm just some guy. And if they asked me, I'd go up in one of those damned things... P _________________________________________________________________ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

The problem is that NASA has developed an entrenched bureaucracy just like virtually every other program of the federal government. Get more competitive private sector involvement in aerospace programs and we'll see lower costs and greater gains. It's sad to see that the NASA that (purportedly) put men on the moon in the 60s has become a second-rate space cargo courier, little better than a glorified Postal Service. As for IDM-ish content, have people heard the Soft Pink Truth album? I think this shit is hot, sort of like a more Princified Super_Collider, perhaps. Well, housier than that. Anyway, homo music is some of the best music. -----Original Message----- From: Patrick Norris [mailto:untitledartist@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 12:56 PM To: IDM@hyperreal.org Subject: [idm] A formal apology (and chance to releive my guilt) about my rant on NASA I know Nasa's been hurtin' for funds lately and I shouldn't knock'em, I just hope some new technology will emerge shortly (maybe feild propulsion) because if the guidance and safety systems could take a larger chunk of the cash than they do today (instead of the money going to massive amounts of fuel) then we'd have greater control over the safety of the crew. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

quoted 6 lines The problem is that NASA has developed an entrenched bureaucracy just

>The problem is that NASA has developed an entrenched bureaucracy just >like virtually every other program of the federal government. Get more >competitive private sector involvement in aerospace programs and we'll. >see lower costs and greater gains. It's sad to see that the NASA that >(purportedly) put men on the moon in the 60s has become a second-rate >space cargo courier, little better than a glorified Postal Service.

Actually, the involvement of private industry may be exactly the problem. "<...> Lockheed, as part of the $3 billion+ contract with NASA, is responsible for providing end-to-end space operations support for NASA missions, including the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, mission operations and planning systems design, development, and integration. To minimize costs, Lockheed has implemented a "Storefront" program to set up facilities on or near selected university campuses where students are hired to perform software engineering and other related work under the supervision of CSOC. <...>" http://www.vmware.com/news/releases/lockheed.html NASA has a long and ongoing relationship with Lockheed-Martin and other defense contractors whose interests may be more in the bottom line than actually protecting the people they send up and ensuring scientific progress that is more research-oriented and less profit-oriented. For things such as space travel that require less cost-cutting and do not have an immediate profit-related motive, my opinion is that the private sector is less appropriate. But then again, I'm not a big fan of privatization to begin with. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org