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NASA Expands Role of International Space Station
coondoggie writes "NASA is looking for a few good experiments to run in space. The space agency this week said it was seeking research ideas (PDF) from private entities who want to do research on board the International Space Station. NASA said it was looking to expand the use of the ISS by providing access to the lab for the conduct of basic and applied research, technology development, and industrial processing to private entities — including commercial firms, non-profit institutions, and academic institutions. NASA said using the ISS as a national lab could help develop a number of applications in areas such as biotechnology, energy, engineering, and remote sensing."
Sorry, you said that asking for suggestions on research to be done just emphasizes its uselessness. That's not a strawman, that's what you said. It's not my fault that same logic applies equally to things you like such as MRO or Hubble.
Let's not assume that manned and unmanned missions can do the same thing, because they can't. Manned missions can't visit Saturn or Mars yet for that matter. And there are plenty of experiments that are much more easily performed with human supervision than without, and with pre-existing infrastructure than without. ISS is already up there, and contains space-shuttle-payload size bays designed exclusively for research. It isn't useless, the space agencies involved are already performing experiments on it. Expanding the number of experiments done is expanding its usefulness, not admitting it isn't useful at all as you claimed.
Again, we're in agreement that robotic probes are cheaper and better for exploring the solar system and beyond. I disagree with your stance that the ISS is useless. And your statement that asking for research to be conducted on it demonstrates this uselessness is factually and logically wrong.
The enemies of Democracy are
Oh come on a LOT better idea list.....
1 - how long do lawyers last in space without a space suit.
2 - effects on lawyers when exposed to explosive decompression.
3 - effects of solar radiation on a lawyer in a space suit.
4 - effects of solar radation on a lawyer without a space suit.
5 - effects of amoebic dysentery on a lawyer in micro-gravity.
6 - how long do lawyers last as an ablative shield during re-entry.
7 - what is the maximum ballistic speed a lawyer can reach.
etc...
Oh and as a control do the same experiments on MPAA and RIAA executives.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.