James Webb Space Telescope begins historic mission

[ovrszd]

Dang it !!! I've made up my mind. Don't confuse me with the facts. But wait......the big winter blast is nearing.........I gotta go change the oil in the old snowblower.

Happy new Earth Year Guys.

Mike

Happy New Year to you my friend.

Hunker down. Looks like most of the snow will by North of you? But you may get some freezing rain/sleet?

Stay safe and healthy!!!

 

[rekees4300]

The human race has always had the urge to see whats over the next hill.

I'm of the opinion that this mission will give answers to questions. Will the answers benefit our planet? I guess that will be determined.

Imagine the benefit if Webb finds a reachable exoplanet that supports Earth life. We have all our eggs in one basket. It's not a matter of if but a matter of when the basket will fail.

• Measure the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems, including our own Solar System, and investigate the potential for life in those systems

 

[ArlyA]

Imagine the benefit if Webb finds a reachable exoplanet that supports Earth life. We have all our eggs in one basket. It's not a matter of if but a matter of when the basket will fail.

• Measure the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems, including our own Solar System, and investigate the potential for life in those systems

I agree but we have no means to get most anywhere,,,, everything is so, so far away. Even the nearest star is. (Outside of our sun)

 

[CalG]

It is a curious thing to consider that HOPE for mankind's future might be the trashing of this planet and moving on to another. (only to trash that planet as well?)

This is the home of our great grandfathers, our fathers, ourselves and our children, and the countless generations that will follow us. Appreciation is the key.

 

[ruffdog]

Would the beings on this "other" planet allow us to land without checking us out first? Are we bringing a virus or bacteria that will decimate their population? If they checked our past history and how we treated each other and our own planet, would they think we are good? There is a good possibility that we are NOT the most advanced species too.

 

[otlski]

I agree it could have been better spent. Or worse spent.

$10 Billion is 1% of a Trillion. Our Annual Budget in 2021 was $6.82 Trillion. So this $10B expenditure was .14% of our Annual Budget. That is if this old man did the math right.

On the other hand, NASA's Annual Budget is $23.3 Billion. So they spent 43% on this project.

Not arguing one way or the other. Simply trying to put this in perspective.

Actually, the costs are more favorable than what you've posted; the cost for Webb was spread out over 20 years. Nasa's budget is 0.5% of our annual national budget. Webb averages just 2% of that 0.5% annually.

General comments (aka my opinions).
Compared to all the other wasteful spends of money at the government level, spending monies on projects like Webb is exactly the sorts of things our government should be doing. Science and defense; the sorts of things we as individuals cannot match for ourselves.

Webb can lead to discoveries regarding the nature of the universe, help solve the unified theory that Einstein was unable to resolve. This in turn can lead to solving the world's energy problems, space travel, etc. It is a stepping stone to the next level.

Webb is the sort of STEM project this country needs to do more of. Advancing humankind for the sake of advancement. Discoveries made will fuel the imaginations and inspire young boys and girls who will be responsible for solving the problems of tomorrow. We don't have enough kids interested in STEM to keep pace with other nations long term.

Though most or all the discoveries will be shared in full with the rest of the world, having Webb as the development of a western democracy demonstrates that we as a nation are still a force in the geopolitical game.

And yes, we should take care of our own planet but having options is good. Ask the dinosaurs.

I know, I pin a lot of hope onto this kind of project. Hopefully it all goes well and we get these kinds of return on the investment.

 

[dstig1]

Sun shield is fully extended now, but still needs to be tensioned over the next couple days to complete it. You can already see the cold side temps dropping like a rock.

 

[ArlyA]

I love to support NASA and this new telescope by paying taxes and lots of other things i personally can't on my own. For example; fire department, general law enforcement, national waterways, national and state defense, local code enforcement, water system to and from our house, national food and drug administration, OSHA just to name a few.

 

[ovrszd]

Would the beings on this "other" planet allow us to land without checking us out first? Are we bringing a virus or bacteria that will decimate their population? If they checked our past history and how we treated each other and our own planet, would they think we are good? There is a good possibility that we are NOT the most advanced species too.

Here's my take.

If intelligent life from another planet is capable of coming here, they are sooo advanced beyond us that it won't matter much what we think of them.

In reverse, if we become capable of intergalactical space travel, we will be sooo advanced beyond them we won't much care what they think of us.

 

[CalG]

Another way to look at the "intelligent life" thing. If present theories hold. We all had the same start!

I have always been impressed that the Big Bang. beginning of the universe, theory starts just milli seconds AFTER the BANG.

Just give us ONE FREE MIRACLE! We can take it from there ;-)