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If this writing is blue you're going too fast!

If they're not actually going to do any science then what is the point of having a space station? They may as well convert the entire thing into a hotel for space tourism.

Given the limited crew, the lack of modules, and limited supply runs, what science were they doing in the first place? I'm sure they are doing some, but my impression was they were mostly there to keep it running.

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I say there is an invisible elf in my backyard. How do you prove that I am wrong?

Disclaimer: Avatar is not an official NASA image and does not imply any specific interplanetary or interstellar capability.

The Leif Ericson Cruiser

I just saw this on cnn and it makes me sad. They want to sacrifice research, want to sacrifice huibble, I think all they really care about is making a moon base before the Russians or Chinese so they can say "we did it first!"

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-The Wolf
http://www.ryanmercer.com

I sometimes get the feeling that Griffin is using the "Washington Monument gambit" that the National Park Service is alleged to have used whenever their budget was threatened: claim that the first thing they have to cut back on is something really visible and popular.

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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.

^
Except that the ISS isn't really popular.

I feel much of ISS's (little) potential is being wasted. For instance, there was serious talk at one time about place a small (12-16 in.), privately-funded amateur space telescope at the Station for free public use, which could have tremendously increased both the station's visibility and its popularity, to say nothing of practical results. However, it looks like it's been quietly shelved indefinitely. As for science, the most interesting result by far to come out of the whole program was not even intended: the discovery of how salt crystals bonded in zero-G, something which has implications for how the Solar System formed.

So here we are, committed to finishing a space station (for international partners that we wouldn't give a hoot for otherwise) so we can have the right to ditch it (and free up cash for other blue sky projects). Wunnerful.

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"He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant and she was the East River."

--Anonymous

Seems to me they are only "wasting" a half built spacestation which doesn't have enough crew to do science anyway. Perhaps if they concentrate on finishing the thing it will then be able to produce something worthwhile. You don't expect results from a half built laboratory do you?

Actually yes. I don't need the gas for the bunsen burners connect or a functioning flue cabinate to do science. Indeed, the less built it is the better for many experiments as there will be less vibration producing machinary and people.

Don't forget that the NASA funded experiments are only part of what's being done. It is the International space station, after all. Unfortunately, the ESA seems not to provide much information about the experiments that they've been doing, and the Japanese module still hasn't been launched.

Some of the ESA experiments are mentioned on the Web page http://www.spaceflight.esa.int/users...l=11&page=2146

Sure... but would you like the electricity turned on first? And perhaps a chair and a table? ISS is litlle more than a construction office at the moment.

There is such a thing as say--waiting to repair the damage to the LV community before spending say--the next billion years for science. Rockets first--science later.

"Please insert horse before cart for optimum space program efficiency."

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I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.

The horse being the LV and the cart being the payload of course.

Exactly.

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I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.