Shuttle Atlantis Docks With International Space Station For the Last Time 91
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by
timothy
from the since-we-were-in-the-neighborhood dept.
from the since-we-were-in-the-neighborhood dept.
The BBC reports, with video, that the shuttle Atlantis "has docked with the International Space Station for the final time. The shuttle has brought a year's supply of food and around two tonnes of other supplies and spare parts to the ISS," where the shuttle will remain docked for at least seven days.
Re:Taking stock of the decades of the shuttle prog (Score:5, Insightful)
This is my humble request:
Taking stock of the 30 years of the shuttle program. I mean, I would like to know the benefits directly linked to the decades of this program.
The stock should include among other metrics; how much tax payer dollars have been sunk into the program, how else these dollars could have been used, what benefits we've obtained as a nation, any missed opportunities and other benefits if any. Specifically, I would like to see tangible things that can directly be attributed to the presence of the shuttle program.
Here's my take: There is not much we have benefited. I other words, the USA would not be that worse of if the shuttle program never existed.
You are *so* right. With the approximately $200 billion that we spent on almost 30 years of space science, we could have bought: One failed insurance company!
Oh wait, we did. Yeah, given the choice between owning a failed insurance company (AIG in case you hadn't guessed), and contributing 30 years of spaceflight to the world, I think I am going to have to go with the shuttle program on this one.
Re:Taking stock of the decades of the shuttle prog (Score:5, Insightful)
Here's my take: There is not much we have benefited. I other words, the USA would not be that worse of if the shuttle program never existed.
Tell that to every scientist that watched a space shuttle launch as a child and was inspired to learn. Not all rewards are obvious and tangible.
Re:Taking stock of the decades of the shuttle prog (Score:2, Insightful)
You gotta love false dichotomies. Either you are for the shuttle or you are for welfare to billionaires. Brilliant!