To the Moon Alice!

[qwerty]

I haven't heard boo about this but NASA launched an unmanned rocket to the moon earlier today. I don't think it will actually land on the moon, just practice orbiting it and then return to earth.

Artemis I - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[coolerifyoudid]

I swear I still have the awe of a six-year old everytime I see a launch.

 

[tman24]

I swear I still have the awe of a six-year old everytime I see a launch.

try to see one in person if you haven't. its so cool

 

[interrobang]

try to see one in person if you haven't. its so cool

It will probably be busy, but trying to plan for the first crew launch of Artemis.

 

[interrobang]

And getting close to do a burn to head to the moon. If anyone was interested in watching.

 

[CloneIce]

Love it! We’ve got a real nice plan for space exploration for the next few decades. Going to be fun to watch.

 

[NorthCyd]

I was having a hard time getting to sleep last night so I just happened to see the launch. It was a nice surprise! This launch, then a manned launch in 2024, followed by a lunar landing in 2025. If all that is successful the plan is to have annual launches with a long term plan of building a space station around the moon and a station on the lunar surface that astronauts can live in for months at a time. Amazing stuff! Hope we actually follow through with it!

 

[Tailg8er]

Can anyone explain some of the benefits to mankind/the US that we've gotten from space exploration over the past ~50 ish years (and/or what we're hoping to accomplish in the next 50)?

Don't mean to sound naive, but genuinely curious. And I'm not trying to suggest we stop space exploration by any means, just wondering what exactly we're gaining with the billions we spend on it each year.

Other than it being cool/fascinating, what do we gain from landing a robot on Mars? Or why do we need astronauts living on the moon for months?

 

[tman24]

Can anyone explain some of the benefits to mankind/the US that we've gotten from space exploration over the past ~50 ish years (and/or what we're hoping to accomplish in the next 50)?

Don't mean to sound naive, but genuinely curious. And I'm not trying to suggest we stop space exploration by any means, just wondering what exactly we're gaining with the billions we spend on it each year.

Other than it being cool/fascinating, what do we gain from landing a robot on Mars? Or why do we need astronauts living on the moon for months?

tang and pens that write upside down

 

[tzjung]

Can anyone explain some of the benefits to mankind/the US that we've gotten from space exploration over the past ~50 ish years (and/or what we're hoping to accomplish in the next 50)?

Don't mean to sound naive, but genuinely curious. And I'm not trying to suggest we stop space exploration by any means, just wondering what exactly we're gaining with the billions we spend on it each year.

Other than it being cool/fascinating, what do we gain from landing a robot on Mars? Or why do we need astronauts living on the moon for months?

The biggest impact is the improvement of microchip and other computer technology.

 

[Hoggins]

Can anyone explain some of the benefits to mankind/the US that we've gotten from space exploration over the past ~50 ish years (and/or what we're hoping to accomplish in the next 50)?

Don't mean to sound naive, but genuinely curious. And I'm not trying to suggest we stop space exploration by any means, just wondering what exactly we're gaining with the billions we spend on it each year.

Other than it being cool/fascinating, what do we gain from landing a robot on Mars? Or why do we need astronauts living on the moon for months?

Do you have a cell phone? Computer? Microwave?

NASA’s budget is also a drop in the bucket compared to Social Security or Defense

 

[riceville98]

I swear I still have the awe of a six-year old everytime I see a launch.

Me too. I'm a space geek and used to follow all the Shuttle missions. The launch and landing phases of the mission never lose their awe or excitement for me!!

 

[isufbcurt]

My FIL was down there for the launch. He woke us up texting us videos of the launch right after it happened.

He worked for an Engineering Firm in Waverly and was the head guy that designed the transport they use to move the rocket from the building to the launch pad. He retired from the Engineering Firm and then NASA hired him part time to help with the transport. He is always traveling to Louisiana and Florida for NASA work.

The first time this thing was supposed to launch I think in Sept. he was down in Florida the entire week doing nothing but waiting for it to launch lol.

 

[isufbcurt]

I also love space stuff. Actually went to Space Camp in Huntsville, AL when I was in 6th grade.

 

[mramseyISU]

try to see one in person if you haven't. its so cool

I got to see a SpaceX launch from the deck of a Cruise ship last winter. I've wanted to see one since I was a kid. Only took me 40 years to accomplish it.

 

[Tailg8er]

The biggest impact is the improvement of microchip and other computer technology.

Do you have a cell phone? Computer? Microwave?

NASA’s budget is also a drop in the bucket compared to Social Security or Defense

How has space exploration improved microchips? Is there some mineral they mine or something? Or something to do with satellites? (Sorry, obviously not informed at all on these things)

Again, not trying to insinuate this is wasted money, I'm just not clear on how exactly it improves/impacts the average Joe's life.

 

[isufbcurt]

Can anyone explain some of the benefits to mankind/the US that we've gotten from space exploration over the past ~50 ish years (and/or what we're hoping to accomplish in the next 50)?

Don't mean to sound naive, but genuinely curious. And I'm not trying to suggest we stop space exploration by any means, just wondering what exactly we're gaining with the billions we spend on it each year.

Other than it being cool/fascinating, what do we gain from landing a robot on Mars? Or why do we need astronauts living on the moon for months?

Medicines too

 

[riceville98]

Can anyone explain some of the benefits to mankind/the US that we've gotten from space exploration over the past ~50 ish years (and/or what we're hoping to accomplish in the next 50)?

Don't mean to sound naive, but genuinely curious. And I'm not trying to suggest we stop space exploration by any means, just wondering what exactly we're gaining with the billions we spend on it each year.

Other than it being cool/fascinating, what do we gain from landing a robot on Mars? Or why do we need astronauts living on the moon for months?

The computer and tech side is the biggest sector of gain as pointed out but, also gains in medical tech and new drugs/treatments or info on medical conditions and gains in environmental tech.

Now do those gains justify the money we're spending and plans we have? That's a continuous debate and that's coming from a very "pro space" person

 

[CloniesForLife]

How has space exploration improved microchips? Is there some mineral they mine or something? Or something to do with satellites? (Sorry, obviously not informed at all on these things)

Again, not trying to insinuate this is wasted money, I'm just not clear on how exactly it improves/impacts the average Joe's life.

Nothing directly mined from space. It's more of a push the boundaries of tech to get us there. Just like war does.

 

[tzjung]

How has space exploration improved microchips? Is there some mineral they mine or something? Or something to do with satellites? (Sorry, obviously not informed at all on these things)

Again, not trying to insinuate this is wasted money, I'm just not clear on how exactly it improves/impacts the average Joe's life.

NASA funded/purchased over half of all early microchips created. Thier requirements guided microchip design and innovations to get smaller. Pretty amazing.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90362753/how-nasa-gave-birth-to-modern-computing-and-gets-no-credit-for-it