In today's press conference a NASA official dismissed the importance of the debri that hit the left wing on launch. After all it happened in two of the previous three shuttle missions, and nothing happened.
Exactly. The orbiter is designed to have a few tiles break off, crack, etc. This was one of the advantages of using these heat-absorbant tiles, and engineers reviewed this when they designed the shuttle.
First off, I am not saying that this was a terrorist attack or act of sabotage. Landing is the most dangerous part of a flight, as the shuttle has the aerodynamic properties of a brick. Added to that, there is no fuel left for any auxiliary engines and the angle of reentry must be VERY precise. There are thousands of things that could go wrong without any help.
But I'm sure you all have heard that already on the news.
I am good friends with a NASA engineer (who is not too high up on the status rank, btw.) I was working on a research project having to do with NASA, and as a favor to me, he obtained permission for us to tour the Obiter Processing Facility (where they prepare the shuttle for the next launch) and the Vehicle Assembly Building (where they attach the External Fuel Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters.)
All this was *extremely* easy to do. I have been inside the orbiter, under relatively little supervision, with no vouchers except for my friend's word (and he is not powerful in the NASA hierarchy, either).
btw, I wouldn't worry just yet, it's not really AI, but a robot programmed for a specific task; god is safe for a few decades yet
I'm not worried about having programs that are able to think intelligently. I just think it's a waste to try to design machines in human form.
Humans should look at proven biological examples of the most efficient "machines" of life. If we could just get a clue, we'd figure out that the right basis to design anything (robots and cells included) is right in front of us.
Why do all this work and research when the answer from God, tested by time and evolution, is staring us dead in the face?
All I'm trying to say, is that a lot of time and money will be saved if we build robots according to the task they are designed for.
Creating an AI like GRACE is most definitely a laudable accomplishment.
Before we research further into making robots more humanoid, however, I think we should remember an old biology axiom: Form Fits Function. Even at today's level of technology, humans could never design a molecule as complex and efficient as a protein. Why do we act like we know better than God (or whatever you wish to believe) when it comes to creating things now?
A machines' design should be the most efficient for its specified task. Homo sapiens is a specialized species built for thinking. We don't need robots to take our place; we need robots to perform tasks that we are incapable of.
This is why we don't need NASA. A private funded company would be more efficient. Also, what does the government need from space? We need to stand up and tell our governments to stop monopolizing this valuable piece of real estate.
The United States has always turned its collective head the other way when it comes to China, not unlike our reaction with the situation in the Middle East. What everything all boils down to is this: The US is the largest group of hypocrites in the world. We have economic sanctions on Cuba, but not on China. We condemn Saudi Arabia quietly, but when confronted, we keep quiet in a desperate attempt to save our oil. Now, our businesses are cooperating with the Chinese "iron-curtain" that we disapprove of publicly. And, with every day that passes, our society becomes more dependent on Chinese produced products, and with every day, the Chinese government grows slightly stronger.
The American government is keeping up the illusion that we are still the most powerful nation on the planet. This is horribly wrong, but luckily our enemies have not yet noticed it. The US holds mere remnants of power and glory from its former prestigious days, which might be enough to subdue one country for a little while longer, but is helpless against a group of allied nations.
There is only one solution to this problem, and it will not be peaceful. We have become too entrenched in our policies and ways to extract ourselves cleanly and return mighty America, misguided guardian of freedom and liberty, to its former days of majestic splendor.
I call for every patriotic American to cut their ties with countries like China and Saudi Arabia unless they truly and sincerely change their ways. This cannot go on any longer! We deserve our freedom and so do the poor oppressed proletariats of communist China as well.
I speak to my fellow Americans to take an active part in your government, not only for the sake of all those living under oppressive governments, but for your safety and well-being. We must cut our ties with China! We are setting them up to make a play for world dominations by catering to their needs. And I assure you, the moment our wonderful nation stumbles, China will be there to take our place. They can leave us helpless and struggling, and while they can still do so, our nation can never be a true protector of all that is good and great.
The car companies would lose money because I'm positive it takes more time and effort (which equates to money) to monitor people. This would only work if enough people paid not to be monitored. Seems to me it should work the other way around to be truly successful...
The question is not whether Russia is going to try to launch a mission, but whether or not they should send a probe and eventually humans. In fact, why should any government be involved in these endeavours? We should realize where this is all going to lead to; specifically, colonization of other planets. Did the Russians think about Mir when they launched Sputnik? Did the US believe they would end up with the Space Shuttle when they started with Mercury? Let us learn from history that we might have the foresight to look ahead and analyze the consequences of our actions. Where will manned missions lead to eventually? Truthfully, I place my bet on colonization. And when, not if, we set up a base, maybe not in our lifetimes even, who will govern and control that base? Do we want the Russians to have a political hold on Mars, the Moon, or any other planet? Furthermore, do we want even our corrupted American bureaucracy there? Look at what happens when politics rears its ugly head in places where it should not belong. Look at the International Space Station, for example. All of the normal, expected engineering problems are multiplied a hundredfold! Government has no place beyond the Earth's atmosphere, and should eliminate its stifling grip to give private funded companies with their own initiative a chance. We don't need any government controlling us these matters, and if we allow them to continue to do so we will reap the troubles of our own making.
How I know your XP-related rants! It took me awhile to figure out how to adjust the settings and bypass all this stuff that assumes you're a total idiot when it comes to computers. One of the main reasons I got the office edition was so I wouldn't have to waste time navigating around all the "helpful" roadblocks to keep you from harming your computer accidentally.
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In today's press conference a NASA official dismissed the importance of the debri that hit the left wing on launch. After all it happened in two of the previous three shuttle missions, and nothing happened.
Exactly. The orbiter is designed to have a few tiles break off, crack, etc. This was one of the advantages of using these heat-absorbant tiles, and engineers reviewed this when they designed the shuttle.
First off, I am not saying that this was a terrorist attack or act of sabotage. Landing is the most dangerous part of a flight, as the shuttle has the aerodynamic properties of a brick. Added to that, there is no fuel left for any auxiliary engines and the angle of reentry must be VERY precise. There are thousands of things that could go wrong without any help.
But I'm sure you all have heard that already on the news.
I am good friends with a NASA engineer (who is not too high up on the status rank, btw.) I was working on a research project having to do with NASA, and as a favor to me, he obtained permission for us to tour the Obiter Processing Facility (where they prepare the shuttle for the next launch) and the Vehicle Assembly Building (where they attach the External Fuel Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters.)
All this was *extremely* easy to do. I have been inside the orbiter, under relatively little supervision, with no vouchers except for my friend's word (and he is not powerful in the NASA hierarchy, either).
Security? I'll have to think about it.
I'm not worried about having programs that are able to think intelligently. I just think it's a waste to try to design machines in human form.
Humans should look at proven biological examples of the most efficient "machines" of life. If we could just get a clue, we'd figure out that the right basis to design anything (robots and cells included) is right in front of us.
Why do all this work and research when the answer from God, tested by time and evolution, is staring us dead in the face?
All I'm trying to say, is that a lot of time and money will be saved if we build robots according to the task they are designed for.
Before we research further into making robots more humanoid, however, I think we should remember an old biology axiom: Form Fits Function. Even at today's level of technology, humans could never design a molecule as complex and efficient as a protein. Why do we act like we know better than God (or whatever you wish to believe) when it comes to creating things now?
A machines' design should be the most efficient for its specified task. Homo sapiens is a specialized species built for thinking. We don't need robots to take our place; we need robots to perform tasks that we are incapable of.
This is why we don't need NASA. A private funded company would be more efficient. Also, what does the government need from space? We need to stand up and tell our governments to stop monopolizing this valuable piece of real estate.
I don't care if you're off topic; it's good to hear the truth.
The American government is keeping up the illusion that we are still the most powerful nation on the planet. This is horribly wrong, but luckily our enemies have not yet noticed it. The US holds mere remnants of power and glory from its former prestigious days, which might be enough to subdue one country for a little while longer, but is helpless against a group of allied nations.
There is only one solution to this problem, and it will not be peaceful. We have become too entrenched in our policies and ways to extract ourselves cleanly and return mighty America, misguided guardian of freedom and liberty, to its former days of majestic splendor.
I call for every patriotic American to cut their ties with countries like China and Saudi Arabia unless they truly and sincerely change their ways. This cannot go on any longer! We deserve our freedom and so do the poor oppressed proletariats of communist China as well.
I speak to my fellow Americans to take an active part in your government, not only for the sake of all those living under oppressive governments, but for your safety and well-being. We must cut our ties with China! We are setting them up to make a play for world dominations by catering to their needs. And I assure you, the moment our wonderful nation stumbles, China will be there to take our place. They can leave us helpless and struggling, and while they can still do so, our nation can never be a true protector of all that is good and great.
The car companies would lose money because I'm positive it takes more time and effort (which equates to money) to monitor people. This would only work if enough people paid not to be monitored. Seems to me it should work the other way around to be truly successful...
The question is not whether Russia is going to try to launch a mission, but whether or not they should send a probe and eventually humans. In fact, why should any government be involved in these endeavours? We should realize where this is all going to lead to; specifically, colonization of other planets. Did the Russians think about Mir when they launched Sputnik? Did the US believe they would end up with the Space Shuttle when they started with Mercury? Let us learn from history that we might have the foresight to look ahead and analyze the consequences of our actions. Where will manned missions lead to eventually? Truthfully, I place my bet on colonization. And when, not if, we set up a base, maybe not in our lifetimes even, who will govern and control that base? Do we want the Russians to have a political hold on Mars, the Moon, or any other planet? Furthermore, do we want even our corrupted American bureaucracy there? Look at what happens when politics rears its ugly head in places where it should not belong. Look at the International Space Station, for example. All of the normal, expected engineering problems are multiplied a hundredfold! Government has no place beyond the Earth's atmosphere, and should eliminate its stifling grip to give private funded companies with their own initiative a chance. We don't need any government controlling us these matters, and if we allow them to continue to do so we will reap the troubles of our own making.
How I know your XP-related rants! It took me awhile to figure out how to adjust the settings and bypass all this stuff that assumes you're a total idiot when it comes to computers. One of the main reasons I got the office edition was so I wouldn't have to waste time navigating around all the "helpful" roadblocks to keep you from harming your computer accidentally.
Didn't the fact that in one scene Jay was left-handed, and in the next he was right-handed bother anybody?