We are going to Mars

[Ochea]

Okay, technically the moon is not a planet. But what I'm trying to say is that it will be the first time the white race has ever landed on a celestial body other than earth.

No need to prod me with technicalities -- I'm not a scientist.

Why are you so racist?

By the way, you're wrong again. The first time humans landed on a celestial body was 1969 on the moon. The moon is a celestial body, but not a planet.

[Jordkloden]

Will it be something in the neighborhood of "FUCK YOU CLARKE, FUCK YOU"?

They said, "surprising activity." Not aliens, but deffo interesting.

http://phys.org/news/2016-09-nasa-reveal-jupiter-moon-europa.html

[UED]

http://futurism.com/its-official-were-going-to-mars/

I think this wonderful. We haven't been to a new planet since 1969. This is a brave new step and will allow the greatest country on earth to lead once again.

Stephen hawking once said that man's future -- if we are to continue to exist as a species -- lay in space travel and colonization. I agree.

Let's plant the flag on Martian soil and claim the red planet for the United States and the White Race.

Do you think we'll eventually colonize the red planet? Do you think this will make America an enthusiastic forward looking nation? Will we all gather to watch on TV as the White Race takes another giant leap?

Why are we even taking this seriously?

I would like to point out that anyone who thinks that the moon is a planet obviously doesn't know what s/he is talking about. I don't know how you expect us to take this seriously if you don't know what the moon is. The average person knows more about celestial bodies than you do.

And then there is that whole white race thing but you already lost credibility regarding the moon.

[Gauthier]

They said, "surprising activity." Not aliens, but deffo interesting.

http://phys.org/news/2016-09-nasa-reveal-jupiter-moon-europa.html

If we're lucky it'll just be a shitload of microbes.

[Imperial Union of America]

http://futurism.com/its-official-were-going-to-mars/

I think this wonderful. We haven't been to a new planet since 1969. This is a brave new step and will allow the greatest country on earth to lead once again.

Stephen hawking once said that man's future -- if we are to continue to exist as a species -- lay in space travel and colonization. I agree.

Let's plant the flag on Martian soil and claim the red planet for the United States and the White Race.

Do you think we'll eventually colonize the red planet? Do you think this will make America an enthusiastic forward looking nation? Will we all gather to watch on TV as the White Race takes another giant leap?

Why are we even taking this seriously?

I would like to point out that anyone who thinks that the moon is a planet obviously doesn't know what s/he is talking about. I don't know how you expect us to take this seriously if you don't know what the moon is. The average person knows more about celestial bodies than you do.

And then there is that whole white race thing but you already lost credibility regarding the moon.

Never claimed to be any sort of expert or enthusiast regarding space. I wouldn't say my knowledge is less than average. I did correct myself that it was not a planet - but that doesn't matter.

If you don't want to take this thread seriously, I'm not forcing you to participate.

[Freefall11111]

Okay, technically the moon is not a planet. But what I'm trying to say is that it will be the first time the white race has ever landed on a celestial body other than earth.

No need to prod me with technicalities -- I'm not a scientist.

The Moon is a celestial body.

[AiliailiA]

http://futurism.com/its-official-were-going-to-mars/

Congress increased the NASA budget from $19.3 billion (this year) to $19.5 billion (next year), put Mars on the agenda, and we're cheering for WHAT exactly? That money is being ripped out of NASA's science programs for an all-muscle-and-no-brain dickwave at Mars that won't even happen ..?

Is there any serious possibility that the anti-science anti-spending morons of the House will stump up the starting cost of $100 billion, let alone the inevitable cost over-runs up to half a trillion?

Nothing to see here.

[Bakery Hill]

Speak for yourself mate I'm staying here.

[Bakery Hill]

Okay, technically the moon is not a planet. But what I'm trying to say is that it will be the first time the white race has ever landed on a celestial body other than earth.

No need to prod me with technicalities -- I'm not a scientist.

This is true. NASA has ever used Black, Asian and Latino astronauts during the moon landings, due to Cultural Marxism.

[Gun Manufacturers]

http://futurism.com/its-official-were-going-to-mars/

I think this wonderful. We haven't been to a new celestial body since 1969 December 1972. This is a brave new step and will allow the greatest country on earth to lead once again.

Stephen hawking once said that man's future -- if we are to continue to exist as a species -- lay in space travel and colonization. I agree.

Let's plant the flag on Martian soil and claim the red planet for the United States and the White Race.

Do you think we'll eventually colonize the red planet? Do you think this will make America an enthusiastic forward looking nation? Will we all gather to watch on TV as the White Race takes another giant leap?

Fixed. Apollo 17 was the last time humans walked on the moon.

[Northwest Slobovia]

http://futurism.com/its-official-were-going-to-mars/

Congress increased the NASA budget from $19.3 billion (this year) to $19.5 billion (next year), put Mars on the agenda, and we're cheering for WHAT exactly? That money is being ripped out of NASA's science programs for an all-muscle-and-no-brain dickwave at Mars that won't even happen ..?

How much money did they actually allocate for this red elephant? The OP's story is vague, and I couldn't quickly find a summary of the new budget.

[AiliailiA]

Congress increased the NASA budget from $19.3 billion (this year) to $19.5 billion (next year), put Mars on the agenda, and we're cheering for WHAT exactly? That money is being ripped out of NASA's science programs for an all-muscle-and-no-brain dickwave at Mars that won't even happen ..?

How much money did they actually allocate for this red elephant? The OP's story is vague, and I couldn't quickly find a summary of the new budget.

Different source doesn't even mention Mars, and it seems the budget increase is even less (ie, a budget cut considering inflation).

Scant mention here

Here it says Space Launch System and Orion capsule are part of a Mars program. I'm pretty sure they have other purposes though. They're about $3 billion in 2017, and the House version is similar.

So $3 billion ..?

Neither the House nor Senate committees killed the Europa mission, so I suppose that's good.

[Northwest Slobovia]

How much money did they actually allocate for this red elephant? The OP's story is vague, and I couldn't quickly find a summary of the new budget.

Different source doesn't even mention Mars, and it seems the budget increase is even less (ie, a budget cut considering inflation).

Scant mention here

Here it says Space Launch System and Orion capsule are part of a Mars program. I'm pretty sure they have other purposes though. They're about $3 billion in 2017, and the House version is similar.

So $3 billion ..?

Neither the House nor Senate committees killed the Europa mission, so I suppose that's good.

Yay!

This PDF gives NASA's 2016 budget estimate for "Exploration Systems Development", which seems to mean SLS and Orion, as $2.8B. So, this bill adds $200M and tells them to go to Mars. Eventually. Whee?

It wouldn't surprise me if a couple of science missions got killed, though, even though those are generating all of NASA's good PR these days.

[Novus America]

NASA will probably not be the one go to Mars. NASA cannot even put a man into space anymore. It is a pathetic politicized and overly risk adverse shadow of what it used to be.
Everytime a program runs into a problem any more the cancel the whole thing.

Private companies or China will probably beat NASA by decades.

[Farnhamia]

Okay, technically the moon is not a planet. But what I'm trying to say is that it will be the first time the white race has ever landed on a celestial body other than earth.

No need to prod me with technicalities -- I'm not a scientist.

This is quite evident.

*** Warned for flamebait. ***

[Dahon]

Innovations in terraforming technology can't come fast enough -- the direst predictions on the speed of climate change have all of us earthlings dying off by 2030.

On to Mars -- a new Earth for all Earth!

[The Great Devourer of All]

Innovations in terraforming technology can't come fast enough -- the direst predictions on the speed of climate change have all of us earthlings dying off by 2030.

On to Mars, for a new beginning!

Links, please. National Geographic seems to think that the seas will only rise five feet or so in this century, and the change in temperatures accompanying such a rate of climate change probably wouldn't cause extinction-level events for at least a few hundred years.

However, I most certainly agree that climate change is a big problem.

[Roskian Federation]

Let's plant the flag on Martian soil and claim the red planet for the United States and the White Race.

63% of the United States is white, which isn't evena 2/3rds majority.

Please cut the racist bullshit. Fuck going to mars if we are just gonna be racist as shit - that's the first thing to get us fucked if we do encounter another species.

[Novus America]

Let's plant the flag on Martian soil and claim the red planet for the United States and the White Race.

63% of the United States is white, which isn't evena 2/3rds majority.

Please cut the racist bullshit. Fuck going to mars if we are just gonna be racist as shit - that's the first thing to get us fucked if we do encounter another species.

Actually 77% is white,
"Race/Ethnicity (2015 estimates)[193]
By race:[193]
White 77.1%
Black 13.3%
Asian 5.6%
Two or More Races 2.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander 0.2%
By ethnicity:[193]
Hispanic/Latino (of any race) 17.6%
Non-Hispanic/Latino (of any race) 82.4%"
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States

But yeah, racism has no place in discussions about space. Nobody will be claiming anything in the name of the "white race" which is a lose concept that is not a legal entity and thus cannot claim things.

[Pope Joan]

I'd like to see asteroid colonization. There could be platinum mining.

[Senkaku]

I'd like to see asteroid colonization. There could be platinum mining.

Paying two cents for a kilo of platinum does sound like a nice change of pace, yes.

[Novus America]

I'd like to see asteroid colonization. There could be platinum mining.

Paying two cents for a kilo of platinum does sound like a nice change of pace, yes.

It would lose its value in jewelry. It's main value in jewelry is from its rarity.

Though it would make it more available for industrial uses. Kind of funny the idea of platinum being treated like lead or iron.

[Imperial Union of America]

63% of the United States is white, which isn't evena 2/3rds majority.

Please cut the racist bullshit. Fuck going to mars if we are just gonna be racist as shit - that's the first thing to get us fucked if we do encounter another species.

Actually 77% is white,
"Race/Ethnicity (2015 estimates)[193]
By race:[193]
White 77.1%
Black 13.3%
Asian 5.6%
Two or More Races 2.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander 0.2%
By ethnicity:[193]
Hispanic/Latino (of any race) 17.6%
Non-Hispanic/Latino (of any race) 82.4%"
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States

But yeah, racism has no place in discussions about space. Nobody will be claiming anything in the name of the "white race" which is a lose concept that is not a legal entity and thus cannot claim things.

I believe that makes us more than a 3/4ths majority.

[Pope Joan]

Paying two cents for a kilo of platinum does sound like a nice change of pace, yes.

It would lose its value in jewelry. It's main value in jewelry is from its rarity.

Though it would make it more available for industrial uses. Kind of funny the idea of platinum being treated like lead or iron.

the industrial demand for platinum is increasing. It is one major incentive for Elon Musk et al in their plans for space exploitation.

[AiliailiA]

Different source doesn't even mention Mars, and it seems the budget increase is even less (ie, a budget cut considering inflation).

Scant mention here

Here it says Space Launch System and Orion capsule are part of a Mars program. I'm pretty sure they have other purposes though. They're about $3 billion in 2017, and the House version is similar.

So $3 billion ..?

Neither the House nor Senate committees killed the Europa mission, so I suppose that's good.

Yay!

This PDF gives NASA's 2016 budget estimate for "Exploration Systems Development", which seems to mean SLS and Orion, as $2.8B. So, this bill adds $200M and tells them to go to Mars. Eventually. Whee?

It wouldn't surprise me if a couple of science missions got killed, though, even though those are generating all of NASA's good PR these days.

Adding "Space Launch System" to my search for "2017 NASA budget", found me this:
http://www.universetoday.com/130996/approval-nasa-authorization-bill/ which has a link to the bill.

The bill, as amended

SEC. 412. Goals and objectives.
Section 202(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18312(b)) is amended—
...
(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(5) to achieve human exploration of Mars, including the establishment of a capability to extend human presence, including potential human habitation, on the surface of Mars.”.

SEC. 413. Vision for space exploration.

Section 20302 of title 51, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by inserting “in cis-lunar space or” after “sustained human presence”; and

(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

“(b) Future exploration of Mars.—The Administrator shall manage human space flight programs, including the Space Launch System and Orion, to enable humans to explore Mars and other destinations by defining a series of sustainable steps and conducting mission planning, research, and technology development on a timetable that is technically and fiscally possible, consistent with section 70504.”.

Also from the bill, but boxed instead of quoted because I've put the NASA requests from your source in:

There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for fiscal year 2017, $19,508,000,000, as follows:

(1) For Exploration, $4,532,000,000. (NASA requested $4,482.2 million)

... includes Exploration System Development (SLS and Orion) $2,895.7 million)

(2) For Space Operations, $4,950,700,000. (NASA requested $4,191.2 million)

(3) For Science, $5,395,000,000. (NASA requested $5,367.9 million)

(4) For Aeronautics, $601,000,000. (NASA requested $580.0 million)

(5) For Space Technology, $686,500,000. (NASA requested $735.7 million)

(6) For Education, $108,000,000. (NASA requested $90.2 million)

(7) For Safety, Security, and Mission Services, $2,796,700,000. (NASA requested $2,885.7 million)

(8) For Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration, $400,000,000. (NASA requested $436.1)

(9) For Inspector General, $38,100,000. (NASA requested $38.0 million)

Yeah, so a $49.8 million increase, presumably all to Exploration System Development ... but maybe a bit more if "Commercial Spaceflight" in the same category was cut.
"Exploration Research and Development" which makes up the rest of the category ($401.7 million) seems relevant to Mars, so it makes no difference if that was cut in favor of ESD.
There's other spending (advanced space suit and other things mentioned in your source) but the specific increases for those aren't in the bill ... maybe the House bill but I haven't checked that.

The Daily Fail, like the OP's hysterical source, is reporting this as "$19 billion for a mission to Mars" which it so isn't.


Not entirely relevant, but it's got Bill Nye and the first line suggests there might be something else to look forward to on Monday, besides a geriatric donnybrook in the evening.