[Bacardi4206]

I do not actually think we could have our own Space Program anymore, got to be real here. I mean sure, we contribute a lot to NASA. Astronauts, Canadarm 1 and 2, various other space tech, money. NASA IMO would still be the best space agency without Canada, they however wouldn't be the same or as good without us however. On our own though, we cannot afford a space agency. Atleast in the sense of sending our own guys to space. We simply cannot afford to, I mean to send somebody to space or anything for that matter is really expensive. Not to mention the whole operation upkeep. Something Canada either doesn't have the money for because it's spent elsewhere or doesn't want to spend the money on.

This is the same government that buys a lot of upgrades for the military but cannot manage to keep up it's pledged military budget and is thinking of cutting down costs again. Probally some other PM that gets into power will start selling off all our newly aquired military tech again. The United States has a lot of money, they can do better regarding space exploration than we ever can and who really cares if we have our own space agency, or atleast one that actually does something. It would be nice to have that to boast about, however regarding NASA. Isn't it better two countries team up for the betterment of space advancements? I am sure the United States will take majority of the credit, being there space agency and all. Not that we aren't used to people taking credit from Canada anyways. Put aside patriotism and keep Canada helping NASA and you pretty much have a good thing going. IMO various allies should scrap all there space agencies and just form one giant one that recieves funding, astronauts and tech from all countries involved. It would definetly accomplish a whole lot more.

[sandorski]

Mr_Canada wrote:

QBC wrote:

Yeah, probably not the best financially responsible idea.....But WTF...we could just launch goofy shit up into space just to mess with peoples minds. I bet some people would just shit themselves if we put up a huge paper mache asteroid right over Washington.

Just for the hell of it, I agree.

We could shape it like stuff. A beer bottle. The Peace Tower. Some obnoxious pro-Canadian crap.

Let's do it.

The Stanley Cup(replica), box of Timbits, bottle of Maple Syrup. An Alien Invasion Fleet will show up, scratch their bulbous heads, and move on.

Hell, let's take our Dead Hockey Stars, dress them up and "Bury" them in Orbit. That'll mess with the minds of Aliens.

[Rakivic]

CDN_PATRIOT wrote:

We should have a space program. I mean, we do supply NASA with top-notch equipment, astronauts, etc. Even if we only launch satellites, that would still be cool. I would watch Canadian launches on TV for sure.

-J.

We should be it is not likely...we have gravity against us you see the closer you are to the equator less "thrust" is needed to lift things into orbit that is why NASA's launch center is in Florida.

Ok even if we did where would you put one in Canada anyway?...one option is the arctic an that is is not that piratical. And farther south you would be launching over populated areas. Second option would be one of the Atlantic provinces ok, but there are oil fields around there and any time NASA launches a rocket even close to the area around the grand-banks there is a ruckus about it.

Finally there is the cost factor...you would have to build the facility from the ground up. Not to mention the cost of just launching it's self. There are cheaper alternatives like the solid rocket in the Constellation program (replacing the shuttle) but it is still not a cheep venture.

I would love it if we did but there are just to many obstacles to over come and then there is the simple fact of cost....It is possible tho just not practical sadly

[ShepherdsDog]

The shuttle program needs to be replaced as it's obsolete and the ships need to be retired. As someone pointed out before, perhaps several nations need to pool their money in a space program. Another poster also mentioned the exploration of the ocean. Before we move into space, we're going to have to test ourselves and perfect techniques on the continental shelf. if we can make it there, it'll make it easier to establish orbital and lunar settlements. The colonization of space is centuries away.

[whiskeyjack]

After reading everyones posts, it would probally be best to just contribute to the global community. The deep sea exploration idea is pretty cool, explore the deep. And adapt that technology to space flight when the time calls or something... We have alot of space on land to start with and alot of folks like exploring as it is. The states are falling behind in technology mabye and its time to catch up...