a simple question

[henchman]

I'm curious as to what everyones opinion is.




What nation has the best space program?

[batch]

Scandinavia without a doubt!!!

IKEA can do wonders with your space 

[RTHolmes]

if best means the most commercially successful, then probably the French, or maybe the Russians.

[john9001]

define "space program".

[RTHolmes]

... and "best"

 

[CAP1]

I'm curious as to what everyones opinion is.




What nation has the best space program?

vulcan engineering, and scaled composites.

[Wreked]

From a commercial carrier point of view I'd say the Russians are way ahead of everyone else - they are already taking tourists into space. Price tag around $20 million - not sure whether that includes complimentary drinks c/w umbrella and pretzels.

I see the Europeans have a real strangle hold on commercail package (weather/scientific satellites etc.) deliver with the Japanese snapping at their heels.

Militarily the US is a solid front runner - not sure whether that will translate into the private sector tho.

China in my view is the one to keep on the radar - their growth potential is astronomical and within 20-30 years will likely have easily surpassed the West as the leading economy.

...cheers eh!

[alskahawk]

 One thing for sure is that the US with all its industrial might and technical expertise has been left in the dust. We still have a good program, but it is way behind where it should have been. Many other countries are all ready going for the commercial dollars while the US is busy with its limited payload shuttle program. The shuttle program was supposed to be a temporary measure as we develped better vehicles. Our exploration is limited to the Hubble and satilites. Most of the original thinkers thought we would have had our own expansive space station, possibly a permanate station on the Moon and a easier way to get into orbit by now. Like everything else the public loses interest so does Congress.
 There are some things on the horizon for the US however. Specifically a new magnetic based engine design. This engine will be tested in the next couple of years. If successful it could reduce projected travel time to Mars from six months to a month and a half. Perhaps if there is a defined goal the US can get back to the top of the space race.

[Strip]

NASA is the biggest joke.....great minds led by the incompetent.

That whole organization needs a rework.....

[alskahawk]

NASA is the biggest joke.....great minds led by the incompetent.

That whole organization needs a rework.....

 Without a defined mission they have wallowed and flopped around like a dying fish. Successive administrations have done nothing to give NASA a defined goal. They have a hundred different missions going a hundred directions.

[Strip]

Lets not forget tho, only Russia and the US have operational manned vehicles. The U.S. will debut the new Orion capsule in the next few years. The Russians are still using a dated, (but refined) manned vehicle design. In this respect the U.S. does have the best program in my eyes. The Orion will be capable of lunar orbit missions and perhaps to Mars as a part of a larger vehicle.

Strip

[Strip]

Without a defined mission they have wallowed and flopped around like a dying fish. Successive administrations have done nothing to give NASA a defined goal. They have a hundred different missions going a hundred directions.

Yes I agree, some of their issues comes from outside sources.

Although, I feel a good portion comes from within the organization itself.

[Saxman]

Speaking of military...

Last night's episode of the Universe covered space warfare. Interesting stuff, although one MAJOR glitch regarding "starfighter" combat:

Inertia still exists in space. You can't be going one direction then instantaneously stop and jet off in another. For one, Newton doesn't like that, not to mention that the G forces of such sudden acceleration and deceleration would smash your pilots into goo. While it may not exactly be like Star Wars, space dogfights probably wouldn't look TOO dissimilar from a terrestrial one as far as the movement of the craft (and possibly by intent to make it easier for pilots to adjust).

The also completely neglected the concept of energy-based weaponry, maybe some sort of magnetically bottled plasma? Except for their "antimatter bomb," everything was either a laser, nuclear, or solid projectile.

I will say, though, that "the Rod from God" may have just become my favorite technology term.

[Strip]

The also completely neglected the concept of energy-based weaponry, maybe some sort of magnetically bottled plasma? Except for their "antimatter bomb," everything was either a laser, nuclear, or solid projectile.

Light is pure "frozen" energy.....

The most powerful form of energy comes from gamma ray bursts, which in simple terms is highly energetic light.

Strip

[Sol75]

Sax, I was watching that earlier today, while my wife was napping.  She came out to the family room about the same time they said that about the "Rod from God".. she was half-asleep and asked me why I was watching porn, and wtf kinda porn is it..