DailyDirt: Putting People In Space Again
The goal of launching people into space is difficult to really justify. Robots can do just about all of the same tasks a human astronaut can, and if robots can't, maybe we should work on building better robots. Still, manned missions to explore space are a really long term project that could lead to lunar space stations -- or small colonies on the moon or Mars. And if we ever want to expand beyond the Earth, we'll have to figure out how to travel in space for more than a few days at a time without the Earth's protection.
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- NASA could get a significant funding boost for 2016 -- $19.3 billion to accelerate its efforts to get astronauts into space, along all the other things NASA does. NASA will still need to rely on Soyuz missions to get astronauts to the ISS for a few more years, but with a bigger budget, NASA could keep its Orion crew capsule on schedule for 2021. [url]
- Do you have the "right stuff" to be an astronaut for NASA? The government is accepting applications now, but if you're not a test pilot of some kind, you're going to need to have some serious science skills (and not be too tall/short or unfit). [url]
- Space suits are getting re-designed to walk in space and on Mars. The prototype suits are still bulky and protective, but they're probably a bit more comfortable on the inside for longer excursions. [url]
- In the 1960s, being an astronaut had a bit more propaganda surrounding the job. The sheen has worn off over the years, but it's still a noble profession. People are literally risking their lives to learn a bit more about space and how to live in it, and hopefully, we won't be watching dramatic reality shows featuring astronauts any time soon. [url]
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