What do you think is more sophisticated the space shuttle or a snail?
356064
A single cell from a snail is orders of magnitude more complex than the shuttle.  An easy way to think of it:  If we had never seen a shuttle before, but we were at the same level of technology we are now, how long would it take to figure out how the shuttle worked, and to reverse engineer an identical shuttle?  Now, ask the same question for a snail- We dont understand all the ins and outs of a cell yet, let along an entire animal...we can't even produce a bacteria, which is 1% the complexity of a eukaryotic cell.
429997
The technology is 25 plus years old.  Look forward to the new Aurora.  It will take the place of the Shuttle.
105761
Very detailed and very complex.  The shuttle was built by a multitude of contractors, so each contractor had their own technical drawings, but all these drawings and assemblies had to meet the specification of NASA.
1024435
Outdated is an understatement.  The shuttle's plans were drawn up in the late 1960s.  The main computer system is so outdated, it cannot be updated for a mission without it being totally wiped and having the code rewritten every time.   Thing is, the shuttle exists and is usable.  It costs less to use the existing technology than it would to build from scratch an entirely new vehicle.  Instead of a new orbiter, research is pointing towards crew only vehicles and cargo only vehicles and the new space elevator technology.  One of the purposes of the ISS was to be a build and launch from orbit platform.
130717
A space craft is a vehicle that travels once in space. A   rocket is just a big, hot engine that is used to propel the space craft outside of Earth's gravitational pull. \n\nGood Luck!
381358
Hands down Data would win.  Not only is he technologically superior, he's built better. (picture Dr. Smith tinkering around with Data?).  Also, it didn't take a whole lot for the robot on Lost in Space to freak out and become totally incapacitated.  Warning!  Warning!  Data would kick his butt!
703038
When it breaks loose it would remind you of the space shuttle taking off.\n\nCoach
650465
Technological advances.\n\nMany of the miniaturized components that we take for granted when we listen to our IPods or film someone with our less than one pound video camera are a direct result of the space program as they need to make components as small and light as possible in order to get the items into orbit.\n\nSome of the compression algorithms that we all use to send large files through the Internet are a result of NASA having to create them to receive data from the damaged Galileo mission to Jupiter.\n\nAre you aware of global warming and the hole in the ozone layer? NASA...\n\nDo you like the fact that weather reports show satellite images of storms headed for you that are currently hundreds of miles away in the middle of the ocean?  NASA...\n\nAre you impressed by cochlear implants that allow deaf people to hear for the first time?  NASA...\n\nEver thrown a Nerf Glider?  NASA...\n\nAs you can see, NASA has done a TON of positive things for Americans.  This just scratches the surface.
191108
Definitely Vacuum. Because space, that is vacuum space has no mass. Because of that factor, WE, can basically, "FLY" in outer space....
906150
No matter how good something is, it can always be improved.  If people just settled for things, there would never be any technological advances in any field.  It's possible that NASA could come up with a more fuel efficient, faster shuttle than the current space shuttle.  Actually, I'd say that's inevitable if they keep doing research.  It's only a matter of time.
829665
The one video shows what looks like something much larger than insects.Until people have had some sort of contact or psychic impression such as Remote Viewing it's too soon to tell.Maybe they are as one person said some type of probe. It could be possible for other civilizations to create organic devices or to mimic them. These might also be some sign of a return of a certain species or about some climactic event that's about to happen here.Yea I think I'll go with probes. Maybe nano probes?
1056148
Hundreds of thousands of people would have died were it not for the medical technology NASA helped develop for the space program not to mention all of the research done to miniaturize electronics to keep weight down on the capsules.Would you rather have an Ipod the size of a briefcase that still used vacuum tubes.
682737
Being an astronaut would ROCK! Unfortunately the odds of becoming a 'high flier' are pretty slim, you have to be like a specialist, have a stack of degrees, and probably be someone's relative. Nonetheless, being one of the people that grew up watching movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey, and getting to see the shuttle launch for the first time on TV, I'd jump at the chance to do it, if nothing else to say I'd done it. Unfortunately, NASA produces lots of other things besides missions into space, chances would be better waiting for Spaceship Two etc. I fully believe Dick and Burt Rutan will continue to set records and new benchmarks for space travel. If not them, then wait for Honda, they'll build something that'll do laps around the moon AND get 40 MPG(hwy.) LOL
424144
Mork from Ork... \n\nNano Nano
870918
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/buran.htlm\nhttp://www.astronautix.com/lvs/energia.htlm\nhttp://www.hightechscience.org/buran_space\nhttp://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle\nhope it will help.\nThe only working, flight-ready,and worthy space shuttle is NASA's space shuttle fleet.
157600
I think warp drive was used in Star Trek, while Hyper drive was used in Star Wars. Otherwise, they are equally fast and equally imaginary.
87341
Short answer:\n\nUnmanned space exploration is more cost effective, efficient, and lower risk. We can always build new robots, and we can send them over longer distances than people (at least initially).\n\nManned space exploration would have a better chance to capture public support. A human mind in control of a space mission might see or intuit things a computer guided sensor might not, and it might react creatively in an emergency. Ultimately, we'll place more value on manned spaceflight. We've already put robots on Mars, but the first human on Mars will be a much bigger deal. Sending humans through space safely seems to be one of the goals of space exploration.