The Creation of The WSE!

[Knowledge_Seeker]

I think that countries should create a World Space Exploration center kind of thing like NASA. but this is global. It would kinda be like the United Nations but this is astronomy. I mean think about it, a global space community, the budget will increase in size TRMENDOUSLY! The knowledge spread will cause more ideas, more theories, more experimentation!

I mean think about it. What would have happened if Russia and the U.S would have teamed up in the space race? Would we have the current space shuttle? would we be using the same fuel?

but of course this is for the country to decide whether they want to take the risk; wait let me replace that word; whether they want to invest in something that has been proven to show 100% benefit!

Please voice whether you agree or disagree or the possible benefits or dangers of such a program

(Oh yeah feel free to name it first)

[SolusLupus]

If Russia and the U.S. teamed up for the Space Race, there wouldn't have BEEN a space race; the entire point was that they were racing each other. There was an underlying current of warfare, and the idea was that the first to go over a certain level was much deadlier than the other nation; you can't quite ally like that.

And that's the reason I think that a "global" NASA would not work. The UN is bad enough, and that's just getting people to agree in political arenas. I imagine budgeting and compliance between nations would be a headache to maintain.

[Knowledge_Seeker]

my personaly view is that the idea is good but the technical and longistics* are complicated by im still in favor of a world space program.

and if you say budgeting and compliance would be a headache then how about all the other things that cause headaches? i mean NASA alone has its own problems managing, i mean they're not perfect

and no offence, but you make it sound as if people of different countries canoot get along together....

[SolusLupus]

Have you even seen how long it takes the UN to make a single decision? And even then, there's often much disagreement. Also, how many countries DO get along perfectly, with no problems, as opposed to countries that often disagree on many things?

[Fr. Wayne]

Hey, don't let me stop you. Just don't tax me over it and I promise to say nice things about all the benefits you give us like teflon, and ......well teflon.

[Eckelston]

Have you even seen how long it takes the UN to make a single decision? And even then, there's often much disagreement.

That may be true if you are talking about the Security Council or the General Assembly. But the UN has several independent agencies, like the UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO etc., that seem to work ok and certainly don't require direct agreement from the member states for their day-to-day decisions.

[Fr. Wayne]

If the U.S. don't lead it, it won't happen. Note that our shuttle crews have been representing nations to build a world-wide interest. Venezuela went nuts when the White Sox won the World Series (sorry NY'ers) all because of Ozzie Guillen. Same for future shuttle flights I would expect.

[Knowledge_Seeker]

i agree with wayne;....... about the sox part

GO CHICAGO! GO CUBS! i mean.................sox.....*woot*

[azazul]

I think that we should create one and that it should be divided into parts which have control over specific interests. Such as a division for manned exploration, a division for planetary probes, a division for satellites, etc. Each division could be allocated a certain amount of resources that they can choose what to do with. This might reduce arguments about decisions.

[novaderrik]

if we did have a global space agency, all the other member countries would expect the US to pay all the bills and take all the risks, then get mad at us for not paying all the bills and taking all the risks...

[Knowledge_Seeker]

azazul i think having different departments is kinda the baisc principals of organization. NASA has it, businesses have departments, stores have isles, etc, etc.

and im almost sure that the US would not be expected to do everything because it would be global. it would obviously spread out.

[novaderrik]

if there was an international space agency, it would only be possible because of the research and real world experience of the already spacefaring nations..
in other words, the rest of the world would be benefitting from our blood, sweat, and tears over the last 4 decades. and all i bet most nations would contribute would be a few astronauts to be launched up on vehicles that we design and launch- much like the "manned space programs" of some countries out there now.

[Halcyon Dayz]

There IS an international space agency, it's called ESA.
The last time I checked, (just now) it had 17 members
and 1 cooperating state (Canada).
It's budget is € 2.9 billion, and it is doing quite well.

[Knowledge_Seeker]

interesting...........but if other countries cannot contribute scientific research they could at least provide financial support and receive credit

or this agency could have a special training school where newcommers are educated and prepared so everyone is up to date and makes an equal contribution.

i think that most of you are viewing this as different countries in different groups in one building dived into different rooms

but what the way i want you to visualize this is a group of people; a couple are asian, one hispanic, one british, a middle eastern, a canadian, and an american talking about an upcomming launch about the pros and cons of sending a probe to andromeda or something of the sort.

i think this sort of thing cuold be extremely beneficial because we would have more manpower (ideas) and more financial backup.

[Fr. Wayne]

interesting..........

or this agency could have a special training school where newcommers are educated and prepared so everyone...

but what the way i want you to visualize this is a group of people; a couple are asian, one hispanic, one british, a middle eastern, a canadian, and an american talking about an upcomming launch about the pros and cons of sending a probe to andromeda or something of the sort.

i think this sort of thing cuold be extremely beneficial because we would have more manpower (ideas) and more financial backup.

Ok with me... First we get an abandoned warehouse on the West side of Chicago, then we put the Soutside Irish in charge of security, then only nations who have franchises at Dunkin' Donuts are allowed a sponsor's office. Chicago' Finest will provide all the capital we need-- no taxes necessary. And we should be on the Moon, for a practice run by 2012.

[TravisM]

Well, let's see: Andromeda, M31 > 2 Million Light Years away (1.89210568 × 10 ^ 22 m = 18,921,056,800,000,000,000 km ). Speed of fastest probe ever: 75600 kph. That's only about 28,551,662,700 years.. 28 and 1/2 BILLION years travel time...
[Edit To Add]
Ok, so maybe we team up to send a probe to a place where we can get to in our life-time. saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

[Fr. Wayne]

to send a probe to a place where we can get to in our life-time

I still like to get to the Library. Can we make a pit stop?

[Knowledge_Seeker]

Well, let's see: Andromeda, M31 > 2 Million Light Years away (1.89210568 × 10 ^ 22 m = 18,921,056,800,000,000,000 km ). Speed of fastest probe ever: 75600 kph. That's only about 28,551,662,700 years.. 28 and 1/2 BILLION years travel time...
[Edit To Add]
Ok, so maybe we team up to send a probe to a place where we can get to in our life-time. saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

hey but still, andromeda is still comming towards us, so we just have to wait some million, or so years..........or we can use our imaginations now and travel their this very instant

[Fr. Wayne]

we can use our imaginations now and travel their this very instant

Now you've got it. Books can do that to people. Can we really go to Andromeda? Only if you write the book. So far many have tried. Even Kilgore, but he keeps crumpling them up and tossing them in the garbage bin outside the National Acedemy of the Arts Building.

[Knowledge_Seeker]

Now you've got it. Books can do that to people. Can we really go to Andromeda? Only if you write the book. So far many have tried. Even Kilgore, but he keeps crumpling them up and tossing them in the garbage bin outside the National Acedemy of the Arts Building.

did you say that i should write a book? i agree my equation goes

write book = retire at age 19

............


then come out of retirement a month later

[jkmccrann]

I agree in principle that there should be some sort of global Space Agency, responsible for in some way administering and harmonising the exploration of Space and the rights of corporations, governments, private citizens etc. up in Space, modeled in some way along the lines of the United Nations. And because of that I voted yes to your poll.

But.

We're not ready for that.

Trying to set such a body up currently would instead of encouraging development and utilisation of Space - merely provide a bureaucratic roadblock to true innovation and progress. In the 21st century, and particularly the first few decades of the 21st century that we're experiencing now, Space does not need excessive regulation, it needs freedom from that sort of thing.

To be honest, from my kind of point of view, I would envisage such a body is only really necessary at a time when we can set it up at a location not here on Earth - ie The Moon. When it is a viable option to set up such a Body on the Moon, which may be in perhaps 100-150 years time (erring slightly on the side of optimism), that is when we'll be ready for it.

Unfortunately, given the slow rate of progress over the past 30 years, it is currently an idea slightly ahead of its time.

To kind of buttress that argument. When one thinks of the United Nations, we know it was set-up in 1945, as a successor of sorts to the League of Nations, set-up in 1919 by Woody Wilson and friends. The thing is, the globe had pretty much been comprehensively mapped by 1750-1800. So it took around 150-200 years for us to require a global organisation to try and keep peace and harmony in the world after we'd actually already pretty much mapped the entire world basically out.

Comparing that to Space, and I would say in terms of mapping out the Solar System we're about where we were in the late 18th century in terms of the mapping of the Earth. We pretty much know the Solar System back to front but we're still discovering interesting things out on the periphery - past Neptune, that add to our knowledge. Our discoveries out past Neptune kind of equate to our mapping here on Earth of a place like Antarctica. Something that stretched well into the 20th century before we had a comprehensive map of the place.

So I guess you have to ask yourself, did we need the UN in 1900? And the answer is obviously no, and that's the same reason we don't need a Global Solar body at the moment,we're simply nowhere near ready for it.

[Fr. Wayne]

I agree in principle that there should be some sort of global Space Agency, responsible for in some way administering and harmonising the exploration of Space and the rights of corporations, governments, private citizens etc. up in Space, modeled in some way along the lines of the United Nations. And because of that I voted yes to your poll.

But.

We're not ready for that.

So I guess you have to ask yourself, did we need the UN in 1900? And the answer is obviously no, and that's the same reason we don't need a Global Solar body at the moment,we're simply nowhere near ready for it.

Before 1900 men like Carnegie et al., leaders like the Czar of Russia, the Emperor of Austria-Hungary did convene a congress for just such an effort. Had it been backed by the Teddy Roosevelts, we may have possibly never had a world war in the first place. No use though crying over spilt milk, it's all water under the bridge, kay sera sera.....

[Doodler]

My only point of disagreement is to aim your attention at the multibillion dollar nightmare sitting in orbit now...

That, my friend, is international cooperation at its...well...nevermind...

[Fr. Wayne]

I forgot all about it. Hey, at least somebody would be watching if all of a sudden we go up in smoke. Are there any girls up there? No?

P.S. I may have to take back my teflon quote above.

[Knowledge_Seeker]

oh yeah, i iss, ............um what has it actually accomplished anyways?

*ducks under cover for outburst of responses*

[publiusr]

Only if they make me the Chief Designer of Earth.

"Look, Griffin. I love the Stick--but you are to build HLLV first, got it? Okay, China--I want you to keep using hypergolics, R-56. Qatar--you do the RLV

[Fr. Wayne]

You are hearby officially "Chief." Now get at least one girl up there, pronto.

[Knowledge_Seeker]

"If I was the chief of the world, I'd turn everyone into candy!"

[John Dlugosz]

I mean think about it. What would have happened if Russia and the U.S would have teamed up in the space race?

Nothing. It was the competition that drove our effort.

The future of space is in private enterprise, and being able to make profit. Bigger government just means more arguing.

[Knowledge_Seeker]

Nothing. It was the competition that drove our effort.

The future of space is in private enterprise, and being able to make profit. Bigger government just means more arguing.

i know the term space race, means an actual 'race' but if in the midst-end of it, if they teamed up things might have calmed down a bit and they could have been more efficent.

like i said,
Would we have the current space shuttle? would we be using the same fuel?