Do Americans still have the drive to complete such a technological achievement as putting a man on the moon?

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: AMDZen

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: AMDZen
First of all - there isn't any real proof that we ever made it to the moon. Paranoid propaganda aside, I have done tons of research on it and have yet to find irrefutable proof. The only way would be to go again and find the flag we left, among other things we inevitably had to leave behind. Which is reason enough to go again, if you ask me.

:roll: http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/tv/foxapollo.html

Second - the current society we live in is still too concerned with religion and god to make the strides in Science that we already can and should. In the 60's, the president said we can go to the moon, he knew we could, and all the Scientists agreed and so America said lets do it. Now, scientists have proven the benefits of Stem-Cell research and documented how much society would benefit from it, and what happens? We say No, we don't want to do that because it might be wrong in the eyes of God. Or whatever. And America actually stands by this president.

I have some trouble finding any ethical /moral issues in going to the moon. While I may not agree with them, there certainly are valid ethical concerns regarding stem cell research. apples/oranges

Sometimes I feel like we have travelled back in time 1000 years, and half expect the next people to clone something, to be executed in front of a live TV audience in Time Square.

Why don't you try going back and reading NFS4's second post

I'm not talking about going back to the moon per se. I'm talking about a massive amount of national manpower, resources and intellect going towards something other than war or national security.

See, I wasn't talking about going back to the moon, per se. I was using a modern example that plays the same role. Stem Cell research is a modern day example of going to the moon, it could cure TONS of modern day illnesses and diseases. I don't care what some Christians believe, most people don't share their moral concerns.

There is no moral debate about going/not going to the moon.
Accept it or not, there is definitely a moral debate over stem cell research.
On that level and many more I simply don't see stem cell research now as "playing the same role" as the Apollo did in the 60's. Nothing at all.

I was pretty much kidding about not going to the moon, I thought that was obvious.

Wasn't obvious to me.

 

Originally posted by: AMDZen
First of all - there isn't any real proof that we ever made it to the moon. Paranoid propaganda aside, I have done tons of research on it and have yet to find irrefutable proof. The only way would be to go again and find the flag we left, among other things we inevitably had to leave behind. Which is reason enough to go again, if you ask me.

Second - the current society we live in is still too concerned with religion and god to make the strides in Science that we already can and should. In the 60's, the president said we can go to the moon, he knew we could, and all the Scientists agreed and so America said lets do it. Now, scientists have proven the benefits of Stem-Cell research and documented how much society would benefit from it, and what happens? We say No, we don't want to do that because it might be wrong in the eyes of God. Or whatever. And America actually stands by this president.

Sometimes I feel like we have travelled back in time 1000 years, and half expect the next people to clone something, to be executed in front of a live TV audience in Time Square.

You have quickly moved up to the #1 bullshit artist on this forum.
If anything, as time goes on we stray further from religion and closer to science.

Are all of you seriously this pessimistic about the direction in which humanity is headed?
It's attitudes like that that will hinder the development of science.

I think many of you are missing the idea that instead of the government making "great strides" in science, it's now private industry that is doing that. Look at the advances in medical and consumer technology. Look at the advances in communication technology. I believe that communication technology is the most prolific advancement since the printing press.
The world is becoming a smaller place, people are coming together, ideas are being shared. I think that were advancing in ways that most of you take for granted.

I hope that some techological feat brought about because of the fear of communism and the fear of weapons/surveillance in space is your benchmark for a great technological achievement. The space race was started for the exact same reasons people state in this thread; war and national security.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
We are living in a society of distractions, not ambitions.

QFT

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
We are living in a society of distractions, not ambitions.

QFT

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

We don't have a cold war driving technology anymore.

 

[shuan24]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
Not to mention that there's no real motivation to go.

I'm not talking about going back to the moon per se. I'm talking about a massive amount of national manpower, resources and intellect going towards something other than war or national security.

Exactly what a couple people have said earlier....What you fail to realize was that the drive to go to the moon WAS for war and/or national security. Every little bit of achievement helped us win the Cold War. I can go on about this but I think the point has been made.

 

[K1052]

There is a reason to go back to the moon eventually as it is the only nearby source of Helium 3 known to exist.

I'll bet we go back within the next 50 years to get it.

 

[Generator]

Until I can book a flight, Southwest to the moon. Humanity still has not reached the moon. I have no doubts that our government may have lied to us. Infact I really think it was a greatest white lie of all time. Imagine if the Russians actually tried to get the moon? Trying to beat the Americans to some goal. The fools. Silly fools. We Americans created "how about we don't and say we did?"

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
and no they don't have the drive or desire at least not when it comes to opening the wallet.

I agree,the smarts are there,but,the money is not.

 

[Cawchy87]

yarrr

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
get back to us when you have graduated elementry and can put together a coherent statement.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=elementry">No entry found for elementry.

Did you mean elementary?</a>

I don't usually point out spelling mistakes, but you asked for it this time.

 

[shuan24]

Originally posted by: Generator
Until I can book a flight, Southwest to the moon. Humanity still has not reached the moon. I have no doubts that our government may have lied to us. Infact I really think it was a greatest white lie of all time. Imagine if the Russians actually tried to get the moon? Trying to beat the Americans to some goal. The fools. Silly fools. We Americans created "how about we don't and say we did?"

I don't understand why people think that the government didn't have the smarts/capability to land on the moon. That is pretty ridiculous.

 

[Cawchy87]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
get back to us when you have graduated elementry and can put together a coherent statement.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=elementry">No entry found for elementry.

Did you mean elementary?</a>

I don't usually point out spelling mistakes, but you asked for it this time.

LOL! Touche

 

[pulse8]

X-prize

 

[Generator]

Originally posted by: shuan24

Originally posted by: Generator
Until I can book a flight, Southwest to the moon. Humanity still has not reached the moon. I have no doubts that our government may have lied to us. Infact I really think it was a greatest white lie of all time. Imagine if the Russians actually tried to get the moon? Trying to beat the Americans to some goal. The fools. Silly fools. We Americans created "how about we don't and say we did?"

I don't understand why people think that the government didn't have the smarts/capability to land on the moon. That is pretty ridiculous.

The goal wasn't the moon. It was beating the Russians. And we beat them with peanuts.

 

[everman]

The CEV is being designed with future moon mission in mind. Lockheed Martin released its proposal, and Boeing with Northrop Grumman are also developing a proposal.

The problem isn't drive, It's the total cost and time needed to do these things. I do believe private industry may have a greater drive though, and we should see some very cool things in the private space sector in the future.