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Artemis II Launch Day Updates

nasa.gov

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Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#51

Post by anon291 »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #6
LorenDB wrote: post #5

It's been 54 years since humans last visited the Moon. Hopefully, in a few years we will get boots back on the surface.

Out of curiosity, why do you see this as a worthwhile endeavor? My personal perspective is that the resources are better used for other purposes, but it's possible that I just haven't encountered some compelling reason yet.

Because it is good for humans to have a thing to do. Not sure why this is not considered a valid reason. A lot of these 'it would be better to do X' assumes everyone has the same psychological profile as you. They don't. Many people are driven to explore and would go mad otherwise.

Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#52

Post by _DeadFred_ »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #6
LorenDB wrote: post #5

It's been 54 years since humans last visited the Moon. Hopefully, in a few years we will get boots back on the surface.

Out of curiosity, why do you see this as a worthwhile endeavor? My personal perspective is that the resources are better used for other purposes, but it's possible that I just haven't encountered some compelling reason yet.

I do much better with things to look forward to, or when I have a feeling that progress can be made. An interesting movie coming out, new music coming out. Or even better reminding me what humans are capable of above just grinding to get by or grinding to exploit others. Haven't been many moments of feeling progress lately.

Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#53

Post by jeffrallen »

robotresearcher wrote: post #37
rdevilla wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are not the target audience for this sort of presentation. Media directed at the laity is more about being directionally than quantifiably correct, and is full of metaphor and embellishment to capture the imagination rather than communicate something with precision. People who want the actual details and numbers will read.

I firmly believe you can have both exciting, inspiring, and factually correct communication if you make that a priority. The experience of hearing factual things presented with passion and obvious expertise is in itself inspiring. Why settle for less?

Bring back John Insprucker.

Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#54

Post by propagandist »

willis936 wrote: post #44
adamsb6 wrote: post #31

It is a bit chilling to watch these astronaut profiles having just read yesterday about the heat shield issues observed on the prior mission, and that this will be the first time we can test the heat shield in the actual pressures and temperatures that it will have to endure. Godspeed crew of Artemis II.

That was the intent of the piece. It is impossible to assess the true intent of such a piece when it so blatantly is asking for attention.

Some people are great at self promotion.

Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#55

Post by tigerlily »

robotresearcher wrote: post #37
rdevilla wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are not the target audience for this sort of presentation. Media directed at the laity is more about being directionally than quantifiably correct, and is full of metaphor and embellishment to capture the imagination rather than communicate something with precision. People who want the actual details and numbers will read.

I firmly believe you can have both exciting, inspiring, and factually correct communication if you make that a priority. The experience of hearing factual things presented with passion and obvious expertise is in itself inspiring. Why settle for less?

I for one am begging God that this is merely April fools all the way down.

Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#56

Post by foltik »

runarberg wrote: post #36
nancyminusone wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you watch sports, football, the Olympics? If not I'm sure you know someone who does. Same category as this. Each of the 32 NFL team is worth about the cost of 1-2 Artemis launches. The entire league could fund the whole Artemis program nearly twice. Hosting the Olympics is worth about 3-10 launches. Like sports, the objective is ultimately useless except as a showcase of what humanity has to offer, and people like…

I think there is a major difference though. Sports events are not pretending to be anything else. The Artemis mission claims to be advancing science and claims to be a stepping stone for an eventual moon base and a manned mission to Mars. I personally have serious questions about all of these.

Do you really disagree that it’s advancing science? Surely actually testing hardware, building knowledge on how to run this type of mission, learning to use lunar resources, figuring out how to keep people alive, etc. will teach us things we couldn’t learn any other way.

Fwiw do share your concerns about the methods (sending humans on this specific mission is questionable, SLS is questionable compared to SpaceX approach).

Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#57

Post by _DeadFred_ »

duped wrote: post #13

This opinion may be unpopular here but it's hard to get excited about a colossal waste of taxpayer money after all the damage DOGE did. I don't understand how these NASA missions with questionable scientific value and obscene budgets get off the ground. I mean I do understand, NASA funding is important to oligarchs. But still.

I personally find the grind easier when there also big things happening. You can't just cook the same, most basic, cheapest meal every day for your family and expect them to be happy. Who wants to join a club that doesn't do anything interesting? Same with society. It sometimes needs to dream, to aspire and inspire. To lift peoples head from the toil and look up.

Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#58

Post by hypeatei »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #6
LorenDB wrote: post #5

It's been 54 years since humans last visited the Moon. Hopefully, in a few years we will get boots back on the surface.

Out of curiosity, why do you see this as a worthwhile endeavor? My personal perspective is that the resources are better used for other purposes, but it's possible that I just haven't encountered some compelling reason yet.

It's quite telling that all the replies you're getting are about "hope" and "jobs" with no actual scientific reason. I guess we're taxing people for vanity space missions and jobs programs. Makes sense.

Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#59

Post by runarberg »

bee_rider wrote: post #42
runarberg wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there is a major difference though. Sports events are not pretending to be anything else. The Artemis mission claims to be advancing science and claims to be a stepping stone for an eventual moon base and a manned mission to Mars. I personally have serious questions about all of these.

I don’t have any questions about a mission to Mars, it is a stupid and pointless trip that I don’t want to ask any questions about. The Moon, I dunno, it’s at least in Earth’s gravity well so it isn’t like we’re going totally the wrong direction when we go there, right? At best it could be a gas station on the trip to somewhere interesting like the Asteroid belt, though.

Whether a moon base is needed or even beneficial is a question I have not heard a convincing answer in favor. And even if moon base is indeed needed and/or beneficial to future space exploration / resource extraction why robots cannot more efficiently build (or assemble) such a moon base is another question I need an answer to.

We are sending humans to (or around) the moon now, but it may just turn out to be a wasted effort, done solely for the opulence (or more cynically bragging rights / nationalist propaganda).

Re: Artemis II Launch Day Updates

#60

Post by WalterBright »

xattt wrote: post #16
CoastalCoder wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Out of curiosity, why do you see this as a worthwhile endeavor? My personal perspective is that the resources are better used for other purposes, but it's possible that I just haven't encountered some compelling reason yet.

The moonshot is a halo program that, when executed in a non-profit form, ends up benefiting society as a whole due to smart people being cornered and forced to solve hard problems that typically have applicability elsewhere on Earth. Edit: remember the Kennedy speech — We choose to go to the moon not because it is easy, but because we thought it would be easy.

> when executed in a non-profit form

For-profits are of no benefit to society? Are SpaceX rockets a loser for society?

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