As a former NASA engineer, I just have to say while these are 10 reason that space is important they are also 10 reasons NOT to need NASA.
Prevention of environmental disaster: This is bogus, and doesn't require a government agency other than the EPA which should be doing this anyway.
Creating a global network for modern communications, entertainment and networking: Agreed but NASA has absoultely nothing to do with this.
Global education and health services: This is the same as the previous one.
Cheap and environmentally friendly energy: What? There is no truth to this. It's pure fantasy.
Transportation safety: This is the one I have the biggest problem with. I'm currently working to try to get the FAA and the airlines to use GPS more. So they don't currently relay on GPS. Also, GPS has nothing to do with NASA.
Emergency warning and recovery systems: Yes, but these programs are under the DoD and NOAA, not NASA.
National defense and strategic security: Again, DoD business, not NASAs.
Protection against catastrophic planetary accidents: NASA doesn't do this either. This would be an astronomer at a University.
Creation of new jobs and Industries -- a new vision for the 21st century and a mandate to explore truly new frontiers: It is a classic socialist argument for big government. Again, can be done without NASA.
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Here's a few reason to have NASA:
* To fund and develop scientific satellites for Astronomy and Earth science.
* To fund and develop advanced aircraft and aeronatical research.
* To fill any other holes that need research funding, but have no immediate monetary return for commercial investors.
I guess my point is the Government should fund programs that wouldn't get funded otherwise.
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I was skeptical as well, but I'm very happy with Debain.
If you want the latest stuff run "unstable".
It's not really unstable, it just changes a lot, but I have never had it break on me.
Who wants to bet it'll get billions in funding and then cancelled after 10 years?
Never met a good programmer that would be awake at this hour, independant of job status.
As a former NASA engineer, I just have to say while these are 10
reason that space is important they are also 10 reasons NOT to need
NASA.
Prevention of environmental disaster: This is bogus, and doesn't
require a government agency other than the EPA which should be doing
this anyway.
Creating a global network for modern communications, entertainment and
networking: Agreed but NASA has absoultely nothing to do with this.
Global education and health services: This is the same as the previous
one.
Cheap and environmentally friendly energy: What? There is no truth to
this. It's pure fantasy.
Transportation safety: This is the one I have the biggest problem
with. I'm currently working to try to get the FAA and the airlines to
use GPS more. So they don't currently relay on GPS. Also, GPS has
nothing to do with NASA.
Emergency warning and recovery systems: Yes, but these programs are
under the DoD and NOAA, not NASA.
National defense and strategic security: Again, DoD business, not NASAs.
Protection against catastrophic planetary accidents: NASA doesn't do
this either. This would be an astronomer at a University.
Creation of new jobs and Industries -- a new vision for the 21st
century and a mandate to explore truly new frontiers: It is a classic
socialist argument for big government. Again, can be done without
NASA.
----------
Here's a few reason to have NASA:
* To fund and develop scientific satellites for Astronomy and Earth science.
* To fund and develop advanced aircraft and aeronatical research.
* To fill any other holes that need research funding, but have no
immediate monetary return for commercial investors.
I guess my point is the Government should fund programs that wouldn't
get funded otherwise.