So they've found water on Mars
 

at the south pole or something. go read a paper

No the UK just found water at the south pole.

This isn't big news, since the US found water on the north pole in 2002.

Yeah, but they already knew this for a while though, right? H20 water resides on the south pole while dry ice (CO) is on the north pole. This just confirms it though. Still exciting news.

Did you hear? Water is on Earth, too!

Hay guys let's spend 3 billion dollars on a probe to see if there's water in Antarctica!

Forget our federal deficit!

Can't you get your mind off probing for one minute?

Who cares about those illiterate kids! WE'VE GOT A PROBE ON MARS!

Not especially.

Whoa, they should build a school up there to send all of the kids who got duped from the "no child left behind" act!

dry ice is CO2, you retard

Are you from the UK? Because it's their probe.

Also the space program is nationally funded while schools are mostly locally funded, and a large portion of our technological advances in society come from the space program.

NASA is fucking retarded. So is any administration that supports furthering NASA's exploration without providing for an update and rebuilding of the NASA program that currently exists.

Technological advances?
I hope you're not talking about the SPACE MATRESS for only 5 EASY PAYMENTS OF 19.99.

Last I checked, Sony, Toshiba, Microsoft, and 3M were rockin' out with the technology, along with several other Japanese-based innovators.

and with a deficit like 7,013,441,158,090.28, I think we can hold off on the Mars thing for a bit.

I have a friend who's either in Antarctica or he just left. He was putting up a balloon to study solar flares or something. :confused: It was only through his help that I passed my topology course. I'm dying to hear what it was like to live there for months. Supposedly it's a cool little community of scientists who make it their home away from home.

Here's just a few:
Invisible Braces
These teeth-straightening braces use brackets that are made of a nearly invisible
translucent (almost see-through) ceramic material. This material is a spin-off of
NASA's advanced ceramic research to develop new, tough materials for
spacecraft and aircraft.
Bar Coding
Originally developed to help NASA keep track of millions of spacecraft parts, bar-
coding is now used by almost everybody who sells things to keep track of how
much of each product is sold and how much product is left.
Ear Thermometer
Instead of measuring temperature using a column of mercury (which expands as
it heats up), this thermometer has a lens like a camera and detects infrared
energy, which we feel as heat. The warmer something is (like your body), the
more infrared energy it puts out. This technology was originally developed to
detect the birth of stars.
TV Satellite Dish
NASA developed ways to correct errors in the signals coming from their
spacecraft. This technology is used to reduce noise (that is, messed up picture or
sound) in TV signals coming from satellites.
Fire Fighter Equipment
Fire fighters wear suits made of fire resistant fabric developed for use in space suits. Most fire retardants are of NASA origin.
Smoke Detector
First used in the Earth orbiting space station called Skylab (launched back in
1973) to help detect any toxic vapors. Now used in most homes and other
buildings to warn people of fire.
Cordless Tools
Portable, self-contained power tools were originally developed to help Apollo
astronauts drill for moon samples. This technology has lead to development of
such tools as the cordless vacuum cleaner, power drill, shrub trimmers, and
grass shears.
Medical Imaging
NASA developed ways to process signals from spacecraft to produce clearer
images. This technology also makes possible useful, photo-like images of the
insides of our bodies.
Aerodynamic Bicycle Wheel
A special bike wheel uses NASA research in airfoils (wings) and design software
developed for the space program. The three spokes on the wheel act like wings,
making the bicycle very efficient for racing.
Advanced Plastics
Spacecraft and other electronics need very special, low-cost materials as the
base for printed circuits (like those inside your computer). Some of these "liquid
crystal polymers" have turned out to be very good, low-cost materials for making
containers for foods and beverages.
Space Pens
The Fisher™ Space Pen was developed for use in space. Most pens depend on
gravity to make the ink flow into the ballpoint. For this space pen, the ink cartridge
contains pressured gas to push the ink toward the ballpoint. That means, you can
lie in bed and write upside down with this pen! Also, it uses special ink that works
in very hot and very cold environments. (These are available for sale, in the
Questacon Shop.)
Joystick Controllers
Joystick controllers are used for lots of things now, including computer games
and vehicles for people with disabilities. These devices evolved from research to
develop a controller for the Apollo Lunar Rover, and from other NASA research
into how humans actually operate (called "human factors").

don't forget tang!

Meghan pops up in the most unexpected threads to charm us all.

Jesus you have no fucking idea what you are talking about.