SolarFlare

A big congrats to th X-prize winners but where is NASA now? I'm all for outer space but we must also be realistic will we be going to Mars soon ? It seems we have lots of work to do with, jobs, improving our manufacturing sector amd rising debts before we will be able to back this kind of space vision Recall the recent events The US House of Representatives panel will cut the money given to fund space, environment and science programmes for next year Just $372m was provided out of the $910m Mr Bush wanted for initial preparations for manned missions to the Moon and Mars. http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=10495&start=0 http://www.thespacesite.com/community/index.php?showtopic=818 http://www.space.com/news/nasa_budget_040720.html http://www.marsnews.com/archives/2004/07/20/bushs_manned_mars_mission_funds_cut_by_538_mln_in_house_bill.html http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=15147&highlight= http://hnn.us/articles/3435.html

Seems there were many questions avoided during that debate. Rising medi-care costs, Halliburton corruption from Iraq, border security, a massive jump in unemployment numbers, a sinking dollar and huge over spending leaving enormous debts haning over the USA. Some say it was a mistake for Bush to debate with Kerry Here is a little video clip from the Bush V Kerry debate http://www.ericblumrich.com/wmf/switch.wmv So who won it?

things are heating up because of election time, also there is much talk about what should be done right and what has been going wrong. The cost of Iraq, the falling job market, Halliburton corruption in Iraq, the drop of the dollar and rising debts... There were some very good points made during the Bush Vs Kerry debate. Now we will see the final push for election. So who won that debate Here is a small video clip from the Bush V Kerry debate http://www.pleasurecaptains.com/favor/howsmall.html

good thread , this is an important subject I've been reading various ideas for better and safer space travel and improved designs for the future I'll try to locate some articles that I've seen

http://www.thespacesite.com/community/index.php?showtopic=993 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3545130.stm http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2724481 QUOTE This is a huge blow to astronomers, since spectra are needed to study the chemical composition and physical state of the objects Hubble studies, as well as measuring redshifts of galaxies and gas velocities around black holes — all science goals that the remaining instruments cannot help with. Furthermore, STIS's ultraviolet capability is unique, because ultraviolet light from space doesn't reach ground-based telescopes. This leaves astronomers without any way to study the important ultraviolet spectral fingerprints of ionized hydrogen and carbon crucial to studies of quasars and of the atmospheres of hot stars. Hubble's sharp imaging also helped STIS, allowing spectra of very small regions — such as the nuclei of galaxies — to be picked out from within larger sources, a key factor in pinning down the presence of supermassive black holes in the nuclei of galaxies.

Some information http://www.thespacesite.com/community/index.php?showtopic=1083 New Extrasolar Planets Discovered QUOTE Astronomers announced today the first discovery of a new class of planets beyond our solar system about 10 to 20 times the size of Earth - far smaller than any previously detected. The planets make up a new class of Neptune-sized extrasolar planets. In addition, one of the new planets joins three others around the nearby star 55 Cancri to form the first known four-planet system.

That was the disaster that killed a crew of seven when space shuttle Columbia disintegrated NASA, Congress, Bush ignored safety warnings ? http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/02/01/sprj.colu.one.year.ap/ We've also had the Bush plan, saying that we will put people on Mars , but some are wondering if there is much truth behind this idea some say it's a stunt http://www.space-talk.com/ForumE/showthread.php3?threadid=2178 http://www.thespacesite.com/community/index.php?showtopic=818&st=15 NASA is also having trouble keeping some of it's current missions and designs going, thankfully it kept TRMM going http://www.spacetoday.net/Summary/2497 Mars missions haven't done well for Europe or NASA with a dead Beagle, loss of Mars Climate Observer and Mars Polar Lander http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/mpl_crash_000106.html however the new Mars Rovers are doing very good But there's more trouble coming, a concern on the price of oil, bad economics and the cost of War in Iraq is going to make congress cut NASA and Aerospace Science QUOTE US House of Representatives panel has voted to cut the money given to fund space, environment and science programmes for next year. Just $372m was provided out of the $910m Mr Bush wanted for initial preparations for manned missions to the Moon and Mars. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3912095.stm well this looks a little ominous i guess it answers the question of whether or not it was a bad election stunt

http://www.fireflyfans.net/news.asp http://www.serenitymovie.com/blog/index.php Joss Whedon's Firefly is going to be a big movie ! QUOTE Here's the latest from Joss: Quote: Well, sports fans, it's official. The movie is shot. Done. And I couldn't be happier to be through with it. No more of that exciting, vibrant set, that warm camaraderie, that creative stimulus, free donuts... Excuse me. I have something in my eye... free donuts... Oh, there's things I'll miss. But there's definitely things I WON'T miss. In no particular order: 1) Fillion. People who are prettier than me are not supposed to be funnier than me. I think it's a guild thing. And that whole 'gracious and professional' thing got old on day ONE, you know what I mean? 2) Cinematographer Jack Green. This guy lights stuff ALL THE TIME. Seriously, like eighty-three percent of the shots had light in them. He totally didn't get my "Just Like Radio" concept for the film. 3) The incessant meddling of the studio: where was it? We waited and waited, what, are they all too busy and important to take the time to ruin my little film? This is Hollywood, people. Learn our ways and customs while you're here. Sheesh. Just a taste of the Hell I've been through. And being surrounded by beautiful women, and, let's face it, beautiful men, all of whom get along, work hard and play their characters with such ease and nuance it's clear they were born for the roles -- who needs that? ..... read more from the links

NO Even the Space-people who are big fans of NASA don't think it will happen http://www.thespacesite.com/community/index.php?showtopic=446&st=30 http://www.thespacesite.com/community/index.php?showtopic=818&st=15 from the Bad Astronomer, and a number of posting on his site http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=10495&highlight= http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=15158&highlight=

Firefly is the best it got knocked down, cancelled but the show is just too good, thanks to the effort of the staff, actors, fans and other crew it will be making a big comeback Firefly will return as the movie Serenity !! Go see it !

NASA has been on a decline in the past few years people are not happy about this http://www.universetoday.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4570&st=15