OT: They did it!

[gregebowman]

Well, if NASA wants to make a profit, they should realize that they have to open the heavens to us civilians. I'd like to see a 2001: A Space Oddysey style space station in the future that can be like a hotel in space; not the scientific contraption they're building now. If some people are willing to pay $20 million to go into space, imagine the money NASA can make if they would make a space hotel and charge a few thousand bucks for the privilege of spending a few nights there. I'd scrounge up the dough somehow.

Then they need a new space vehicle. For as much money as a shuttle costs, you would think they could have come up with a more sturdy design.

I'd also like to see us colonize the moon. Even if they can't find enough ice there, they can build some Saturn V size boosters and launch water to the moon. From what I've read, that's the major stumbling block for this endeavor. But I bet if they could find a big enough vein of gold or platinum or uranium, an effort could be made to settle the moon. With over 6 billion people living on the earth, we definitely need to expand our horizons and create living spaces on the moon and maybe Mars.

Also, I'd like to see NASA explore the possibility of mining all of those asteroids that are out there. I'm sure there's a tremendous amount of raw material that can be extracted and utilized.

But will any of this happen in my lifetime? I doubt it, unless some horrible need arizes that will force us to do such things.