• lIlIlIlIlIlIl@lemmy.world
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    13 days ago

    How many people could this mission have clothed and fed again?

    But yeah, glad we have these neato pics now or whatever

    • GladiusB@lemmy.world
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      13 days ago

      Oh I don’t know. Maybe it could educate the dumb fucks that keep squawking that the Earth is flat. That feeds into other conspiracies. Since they can have a slight hint of plausibility of corruption they can keep going with more problems that have connections and then we end up where we fuckin are.

      Disbelief in basic scientific principles leads to dumb voters and dumb voters lead to a lack of accountability.

      We can say that this is “wasteful” in dollars and cents. But this is visual proof that science does in fact yield repeatable results. Which is the essence of the scientific method. Which is also the best way to combat dumb fucks.

    • atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works
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      13 days ago

      This mission has clothed and fed 1000s of people already. NASA is one of the USA’s largest jobs programs and most of us are completely okay with our tax dollars being used in that manner.

    • SacralPlexus@lemmy.world
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      13 days ago

      I see what you’re going for but of all the insane things the USA wastes money on, this at least has scientific value and human interest.

      The cost of this mission is $4.1 billion. The USA defense budget is $997 billion.

      The next highest defense budget is China at $314 billion.

      The Artemis mission could be a rounding error compared with how much we spend on our war machine. I personally think there is a lot more room for criticism of the US military adventurism and all of its costs than something like Artemis but that’s just me.

      • lIlIlIlIlIlIl@lemmy.world
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        13 days ago

        That’s a totally fair point.

        All I’m saying is I bet I could move a needle somewhere with $4.1 billion, and I think I’m ready for my shot.

          • lIlIlIlIlIlIl@lemmy.world
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            13 days ago

            Unfortunately I am unable to take it from anywhere personally.

            It’s funny how this thread just seized on this point like I was personally ripping people out of space haha

          • Iconoclast@feddit.uk
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            13 days ago

            That’s not why they’re downvoting you. You’re being obnoxious despite having a good point.

        • dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de
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          13 days ago

          Think of all the ways the things they learn doing things like this will help in the future.

          Here’s a brief overview of things that have already come from space exploration research.

          Space programs, especially those led by NASA, have produced a surprising number of everyday technologies. These are often called “spinoffs,” and many are things you probably use without realising their origin.

          Here are some of the most impactful ones

          Health & Medicine

          • MRI and CT scan improvements
            Imaging techniques were enhanced using algorithms originally developed to process space data and images from satellites.
          • Infrared ear thermometers
            Based on infrared sensors used to measure the temperature of stars and planets.
          • Artificial limbs
            Lightweight materials and robotics research from space programs improved prosthetics—making them more natural and responsive.
          • Portable water purification
            Originally designed to recycle water on spacecraft, now used in disaster relief and developing regions.

          Everyday Household Tech

          • Memory foam
            Developed to improve crash protection for astronauts—now used in mattresses, pillows, and even shoes.
          • Cordless power tools
            Early versions were created so astronauts could drill into the Moon during the Apollo program.
          • Scratch-resistant lenses
            Helmet visors for astronauts led to coatings used on eyeglasses.
          • Insulation materials
            Spacecraft thermal insulation tech is now used in homes to improve energy efficiency.

          Tech & Computing

          • Digital image sensors (CMOS)
            The same tech used in smartphone cameras was heavily advanced by space imaging research.
          • GPS-related advancements
            While GPS itself is run by the military, satellite navigation improvements were accelerated through space exploration.
          • Wireless communication improvements
            Satellite communication tech paved the way for global broadcasting and internet infrastructure.

          Transportation & Safety

          • Improved car safety systems
            Crash-testing methods and materials came from aerospace engineering research.
          • Air purification systems
            NASA developed advanced air filters for spacecraft—now used in hospitals, airplanes, and homes.

          Environmental & Food

          • Freeze-dried food
            Created for astronauts—now common for hiking, military use, and even snacks.
          • Climate monitoring
            Satellites help track weather, climate change, and natural disasters, affecting farming, travel, and safety.

          A big takeaway

          Space exploration isn’t just about rockets; it pushes innovation in:

          • materials science
          • computing
          • medicine
          • sustainability

          A lot of these breakthroughs happened because space is an extreme environment, forcing engineers to solve problems that later translate into everyday life.

          If you want, I can go deeper into the most surprising or “invisible” NASA tech you use daily—there are some really unexpected ones.