There is a new bill in The House..

[lithera]

Thanks to thezzyzx on this one.

I want to support this bill.

"To restore a vision for the United States human space flight program by instituting a series of incremental goals that will facilitate the scientific exploration of the solar system and aid in the search for life elsewhere in the universe, and for other purposes."

Reading the goals section makes me a little giddy.

Comments

[wanderingfey.livejournal.com]

Just saw this posted on /. I'm for it. If the push is big enough we may even see some jobs being created as a result.

[grocible.livejournal.com]

I still think we would learn more by exploring the oceans.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I think we would learn a lot by exploring the oceans and I believe that needs to be done as well.

To quote Bablyon 5:
"No. We have to stay here and there's a simple reason why. Ask ten different scientists about the environment, population control, genetics and you'll get ten different answers, but there's one thing every scientist on the planet agrees on. Whether it happens in a hundred years or a thousand years or a million years, eventually our Sun will grow cold and go out. When that happens, it won't just take us. It'll take Marilyn Monroe and Lao-Tzu, Einstein, Morobuto, Buddy Holly, Aristophanes .. and all of this .. all of this was for nothing unless we go to the stars."

- Commander Jeffrey Sinclair from Infection

I think that sums up how I feel about it.

[thezzyzx.livejournal.com]

Actually Buddy Holly Is Alive and Well on Ganymede ;)

Ocean Census

[puppygrrl.livejournal.com]

There is a Ocean exploration and census starting underway now. It was on cnn.com the other day. Sounds really fascinating.

[warpdragon.livejournal.com]

I love JMS and B5, but that's an awfully egocentric way to look at things. If we ar wiped out, the universe won't notice. It won't be a good thing or a bad thing, it just will be.

We should go to outer space for us, for our future, not because we're some gift to the rest of the universe.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

That's what I take it as saying. I wasn't seeing it as us being some gift to the universe. I was saying that for us, for all that we've done, there won't be anyone to remember it - no one will care. If we don't, no one will.

[grocible.livejournal.com]

We have so much more to learn about our planet that I still feel we need to concentrate at home before looking elsewhere.

Scientifically, policatically as well - learn about and fix our problems at home - then go elsewhere.

Re: Ocean Census

[grocible.livejournal.com]

I read about that.

Unfortunately, the data collected will probably just be used to further the advancement of certain species' extinction . . .

Re: Ocean Census

[puppygrrl.livejournal.com]

I believe what teh ultimate goal was is to determine the current state of health of the oceans. As for species data, they are trying to amass more detailed data on endangered species to find out if what we think about their numbers is true.

Re: Ocean Census

[grocible.livejournal.com]

Depends on who you ask - environmentalists and scientists will say what you say - and I really want to believe that's the reason for the census.

But as soon as industry and business gets involved - they'll want to know specific facts about the collected data that will be used to fish more areas (or whatever they decided) that will ultimately do more harm than good. At least that's what I think.

I'm of the believe that this census will hopefully prove to those who refuse to believe that we are in danger of losing our oceans - we need tighter controls on fishing - more fish farms if you feel the need to eat fish. As a scuba diver in the waters of Tacoma/Seattle, I am starting to see less and less life and certain sites because of hunting and fishing. I'm all for a ban on fishing and hunting from certain sites for say five to ten years - let life regroup, then fish and hunt with stricter controls.