How much do you think the public isn't told about what NASA does in space?

Question

I'm sure there must be secret activities. Do you think as much as 1/2 of what they do we won't know about?

Seems pointless to discuss information that you can't know if it exist or not. Don't ya think?- NASA

I agree I guess. I spent 6 years as an Intell Specialist and I know there is a lot people won't know. But I see your point.

There are a couple answers that say its pointless to discuss but there are many more answerers that didn't have a problem and they are not bad answers.

Answer 1

There is a lot of secret military space activity, but all the NASA activity is totally public.

Answer 2

No, because they're too busy doing all the things they report on for it to account to that much. I would guess they do as much as they get paid for by the Defense Department. But the DOD gets most of what it needs from their own organic satellite assets. Since the space station is international, all the nations know what's going on there, which is why all the countries liked the idea. And the space shuttle itself has international participants.

Answer 3

Seems pointless to discuss information that you can't know if it exist or not. Don't ya think?- NASA

Answer 4

I think the public is mislead about NASA does in space.

Answer 5

Hi, Richard, my name is Hank. I have pondered heavily on the question you are posing. I believe most people don't care what happens just a few short miles over their head, as long as they can't see, perceive or imagine a threat they are okay. Such is the trust of the Public in their ostrich-like denial. To answer your question--we know only as much as our government wants us to know. Anything other than this answer is specualtion.

Like I said, I have dwelt deeply on the subject. That's why I believe there should be a Space Commerce Law Institute established here in America. If we don't start regulatin' and rulifyin' what the government does out of our sight, right over our heads, what is to prevent them from doing anything they want?

Richard, many, many people still think of space commerce as science fiction, and don't have a clue as to what is really happening with NASA. Space commerce is here to stay. It is no longer fiction. It is a multi-billion dollar industry with virtually no controls or oversight, and I haven't even mentioned space programs of other countries, yet. Do you know there are spaceports under construction in Singapore, the Mojave Desert, Alamogordo, N.M., Burns Flat, Oklahoma, Dubai...?

China has plans for an unmanned Moon expedition to be completed by the end of this decade. Yeah, that's kind of scary, isn't it? What if China militarizes near-Earth space or the Moon? What can we do about that? Nothing. Our government hasn't a clue as to how to handle the militarization of space or the Moon.

I believe in addition to a Space Commerce Law Center, we should begin to earnestly think about a Space Merchant Marine Academy too. If we don't have a force to deal with rogue nations satellites, think geo-stationary orbits, how can we protect ourselves from the vagaries of those hostile nations or anyone, including terrorists, with enough money to pay for a spacecraft or probe launch? What if Al Qaeda was to insert a space station in orbit right over our heads?

That segues to international boundary lines. Presently we have an imaginary line, just a few miles out from our coasts from which other nations can't violate without breaking our law. We have no such imaginary border overhead of the United States. How are we going to protect ourselves from that, very realistic, probability?

I guess us Americans aren't supposed to think of such things. I can't believe we are so trustful of our government or any other entity that has enough money to make a private launch of satellites to let them continue unabated without an avenue of redress to challenge what they are doing. I could talk about this forever. So, for now, I'm going to stop.

I have a question for the reading audience of Answers--Do you know what Uncle Sam is doing with their (ours) satellites that are anywhere from just a few miles above us all the way out to as far as twenty thousand miles from Earth? When I say satellites--I'm talking about tens of thousands, all in orbit, circling over our head. Do you know, Richard? Just a little dwellin' on the subject.

Hank Feral

p.s. We should also implement a new doctrine about space exploration along the lines of "Manifest Destiny." I think we should claim, for the United States, anything we explore or land on or plant a flag on. How does Lunafest Destiny or maybe Moonafest Destiny sound? Richard, if you, or whomever reads this answer, can think of something better, I'm open to suggestions. Hank

Answer 6

For all you know maybe one day they will hatch evil plans to take over the world!! Afterall they are the ones who know everything about outer space, at least compared to us...

Answer 7

Probably a lot but then if they did come across something they couldn't understand themselves then it would be pretty difficult to have other people understand too.

Answer 8

You and I and all people not privy to the click are considered"laymen".That's another word for Ignorant,and it's always better not to inform the ignorant.