U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

[Thumb]

Spaceplanes seem like a good idea. Did that program get cancelled? I don't know how cheap it would be, but it seems like there's been enough work done on the idea, I bet it works on paper, which puts it ahead of everything else we're talking about.

Seems to me that would be a better idea than another shuttle design. Problem with the shuttle is they need x amount of fuel for the shuttles thrust/weight ratio, but then the weight of the fuel and fuel cell increases the amount of fuel needed again.

A spaceplane, piggybacking a large jet, say a C-17 or a 747, could launch after it reaches 45000+ ft. That would save fuel and stress on the engines, not to mention it could be designed based on cargo area and mission priorities, rather than the engines needed to get into orbit.

Maybe Richard Branson is not as nuts as he seems at times?

 

[biggunsbob]

New Horizons keeps getting closer to Pluto.

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/mission/whereis_nh.php

 

[biggunsbob]

The Voyagers sure are a long way away ...

http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/where/index.html

 

[biggunsbob]

Eventually, the Voyagers will pass other stars. In about 40,000 years, Voyager 1 will drift within 1.6 light-years (9.3 trillion miles) of AC+79 3888, a star in the constellation of Camelopardalis which is heading toward the constellation Ophiuchus. In about 40,000 years, Voyager 2 will pass 1.7 light-years (9.7 trillion miles) from the star Ross 248 and in about 296,000 years, it will pass 4.3 light-years (25 trillion miles) from Sirius, the brightest star in the sky . The Voyagers are destined—perhaps eternally—to wander the Milky Way.

 

[KAWDUP]

I'd rank you 5th or 6th, depending on whether you include tLiar.

1st*: tStupid
t-2nd: Byco, KAWDUP, Mitchrapp
5th: LostLeader
6th: Red

Let me know when we get to the ranking of elitist left-wing progressive atheists, then we can start rating you too champ. I'd hate to be left out of all the fun.

 

[Gulo Blue]

Let me know when we get to the ranking of elitist left-wing progressive atheists, then we can start rating you too champ. I'd hate to be left out of all the fun.

I'd like to see where I rank on that list too.

 

[Michchamp]

I'd like to see where I rank on that list too.

you wouldn't be ranked very high on it.

 

[Michchamp]

not sure where "elitist" comes into it... I mean, I comment on a sports message board, fer godsakes.

KAWDUP are you that unimaginative that you have to copy slurs from Karl Rove's "Fox News Election Coverage Playbook"?

 

[Michchamp]

Eventually, the Voyagers will pass other stars. In about 40,000 years, Voyager 1 will drift within 1.6 light-years (9.3 trillion miles) of AC+79 3888, a star in the constellation of Camelopardalis which is heading toward the constellation Ophiuchus. In about 40,000 years, Voyager 2 will pass 1.7 light-years (9.7 trillion miles) from the star Ross 248 and in about 296,000 years, it will pass 4.3 light-years (25 trillion miles) from Sirius, the brightest star in the sky . The Voyagers are destined?perhaps eternally?to wander the Milky Way.

is it possible at some point, they'll be captured by some star or large planet's gravity and either slam into it,or enter orbit around it as space junk?

over time, the stars move too (in general and in perspective from earth). was reading about how in 50,000 years, there will no longer be any Big Dipper; the stars constituting it will still be there, but they'll have moved positions.

 

[Gulo Blue]

you wouldn't be ranked very high on it.

That what I figure. I just wonder if the whole board was ranked in both directions, if I'd land in the same place on both lists (if everyone would). You'd think one list would be the opposite of the other.

 

[Gulo Blue]

not sure where "elitist" comes into it... I mean, I comment on a sports message board, fer godsakes.

KAWDUP are you that unimaginative that you have to copy slurs from Karl Rove's "Fox News Election Coverage Playbook"?

All the pro-luxury suite Michigan Stadium expansion bastages are elitist.

 

[Michchamp]

That what I figure. I just wonder if the whole board was ranked in both directions, if I'd land in the same place on both lists (if everyone would). You'd think one list would be the opposite of the other.

I dunno. he had a bunch of qualifiers in there so that the other list wasn't an exact mirror opposite.

you're more moderate in everything you do, except science, so you land pretty low on a list of religious extremism, and another on a list of elitist, progressive atheists.

though I don't think you can really rank atheists; you either believe or you don't, and if you do, you're not an atheist, (though stupid people like Oprah may confuse things).

 

[Gulo Blue]

is it possible at some point, they'll be captured by some star or large planet's gravity and either slam into it,or enter orbit around it as space junk?

over time, the stars move too (in general and in perspective from earth). was reading about how in 50,000 years, there will no longer be any Big Dipper; the stars constituting it will still be there, but they'll have moved positions.

I wrote up a paragraph with a few thoughts and a few questions...then I googled one of them and got part of an answer. The probes' speeds exceed the escape velocity of our solar system, but not our galaxy. I think that probably means they'll hit something someday, but the Milky Way is heading for Andromeda. So all bets are off. I expect the collision has the potential to fling some objects out into the more sparsely populated parts of the universe. If one of those things is a Voyager craft, who knows? Since the universe is expanding and accelerating, if you can get out of your galaxy, maybe you could go on indefinitely. Pretty long odds though...and it's going to be a while.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Let me know when we get to the ranking of elitist left-wing progressive atheists, then we can start rating you too champ. I'd hate to be left out of all the fun.

I guess we'll be there when you post a rankings list.

 

[tinselwolverine]

I he had a bunch of qualifiers in there so that the other list wasn't an exact mirror opposite.

This is a good point.

I would rank sbee as the most smug elitist lefty on the board.

He's always posting about the best stock purchases he's ever made, and all the $1000 a plate fund raisers he attends hosted by former Michigan players.

Don't know where he would rank on the progressive or aethiest metric.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Let me know when we get to the ranking of elitist left-wing progressive atheists, then we can start rating you too champ. I'd hate to be left out of all the fun.

he had a bunch of qualifiers in there so that the other list wasn't an exact mirror opposite.

Let's look at these variables a little more analytically.

Smug and snooty elitism, progressivism, and aetheism are often found together, but it isn't necessarily automatic.

Let's look two of the most prominent examples of smug elitism and progressive political perspective - Martin Sheen and Michael Moore.

Now, these two blow hards are as elitist and progressive as the day is long - but they're not at all aetheist, both are as religious as the kookiest religious kooks on MichChamp's list.

 

[Gulo Blue]

This look at these variables a little more analytically.

Smug and snooty elitism, progressivism, and aetheism are often found together, but it isn't necessarily automatic.

Let's look two of the most prominent examples of smug elitism and progressive political perspective - Martin Sheen and Michael Moore.

Now, these two blow hards are as elitist and progressive as the day is long - but they're not at all aetheist, both are as religious as the kookiest religious kooks on MichChamp's list.

New Pope is trying to emphasize Catholics' progressive side.

 

[tinselwolverine]

New Pope is trying to emphasize Catholics' progressive side.

Take away the social issues, and the Church has long been one of the the biggest and most influential leftist institutions in the free world.

 

[KAWDUP]

not sure where "elitist" comes into it... I mean, I comment on a sports message board, fer godsakes.

KAWDUP are you that unimaginative that you have to copy slurs from Karl Rove's "Fox News Election Coverage Playbook"?

Actually "elitist" is one of my own after you posted about how you knew what was best for everyone - and the pundits should be listening to you. I wouldn't copy anything from Karl Rove. I have been calling you elitist since the ESPN days when you touted your opinions being worth more because you were more highly educated.

Actually you are elitist more than you are a progressive. If anything, I would remove that one.

 

[KAWDUP]

I dunno. he had a bunch of qualifiers in there so that the other list wasn't an exact mirror opposite.

you're more moderate in everything you do, except science, so you land pretty low on a list of religious extremism, and another on a list of elitist, progressive atheists.

though I don't think you can really rank atheists; you either believe or you don't, and if you do, you're not an atheist, (though stupid people like Oprah may confuse things).

Well using the words of the previous rankings presented - "primary board religious nut"

So turn it into "primary board atheist nut" - is that really so hard to figure out?