NASA's launches should be at sea so that the smoke at liftoff doesn't get into birds' beaks, etc.Do you agree?

Answer 1

I can see your point and think that this is a very good environmentally friendly question (as i don't want innocent birds getting killed), however when a craft lifts of it is not actually smoke being produced it is water vapor caused by two things. First, the rockets use hydrogen and oxygen as the reactants in order to produce the thrust need to lift the craft into space, this reaction causes water to form but because of the intense heat produced by the rockets it causes the water to instantly vaporise and turn into steam. Secondly, under the launch pad there are channels of water which help to cool and direct the intense heat away from the launch pad and again because of the super high temperatures it causes the water to instantly vaporise producing a vast amount of steam.

And if NASA did launch from the sea think how much fuel and resources would be need to transfer the space craft to the launch site and I'm sure that equally can not be good for the environment.

I hope this answered your question.

Answer 2

Wow, some great answers here. And not much I can add to Birdman's very complete answer :-) In my limited experience, the seed/nut dispensers and fatballs are all excellent, and all attract a different range of birds. Italso appears that bids have fashions for different foods - my niger seed dispenser might not be touched for several days, and then suddenly it all disappears over a few hours. Squirrels are a big pest and as soon as they realise that a fat ball has been put out, they will gnaw away whatever it is that's holding them on. Once the fatball has been released, they waltz off with the complete fatball, looking like a burglar with a swagbag over his shoulder. Cats are also a big pest, and have managed to climb a treetrunk here and physically destroy more than one nestbox with youngsters in it. In summary, put out a variety of foods and keep them topped up - the birds will take what suits them best. And read Birdman's answer - he seems to give more informatioin than you'll ever need! Oh, also, I've heard that mealworms are a great favoutite, although they can be a bit pricey so I've rarely bought them.

Answer 3

Like others have said, NASA has lots of PhDs working for them, but not all are engineers, some are environmentalists. Don't forget, KSC is located in the middle of the Canaveral National Seashore wildlife preserve. Frequently while on the bus tour visitors can take through KSC, the driver has to stop for alligators crossing the road. Plus, there are many bald eagle nests throughout the sanctuary. So, they know there is wildlife in the area and they take precautions to protect it.
Now, while NASA is not working one it, there is a private corporation that is trying to design and build a mobile sea based launch platform. The closer to the equator one can get the platform, the less energy--i.e. fuel-- the rocket needs to achieve orbit.

Answer 4

If mankind were at all interested in the harm we do to the environment we would all be eating leaves and fruit from plants and whatever meat we could scavenge. Nobody Absolutely Nobody would be willing to pay the extreme costs involved in a system of social existance that had zero environmental impact.

If you Eat [ anything not just meat] , if you drink water ,
If you Breathe, you are in competition for resources with other life forms. The Vegetarian Pacifists who think they have no impact on the environment and other creatures are only fooling themselves. To live they have to deny food ,water and air to other creatures.

Take another look at the world around you and Grow up.
You have access to a computer , probably a car or public trasit, live in a house or an apartment, shop in Malls Buy clothes and food. Are you completely unaware of the impact on the environment providing all this will have? Do you realize about 20,000 pounds of waste is generated by every car produced by Ford or GM or Chrysler and all the other manufacturers? The consumers who buy products at the cheapest price are just as guilty for the Polution they generate as the Manufacturers . Take some responcibility for your impacts instead of questioning what others do. And if you do go the Green Route enjoy the rest of your life in a grass hut .

Mike

Answer 5

Like the other person said it is not smoke.. most of it is steam... water vapor
But there are bird out at sea also... Birds migrate... they are on every large and even the small land masses. They cross oceans... they would have to fly in harms way there too.
NASA takes that into consideration and not too many are harmed.... honest

Answer 6

thats not smoke coming out of the rocket

its steam, yes steam, very very very hot steam produced by the reaction between liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen

now they are actually moving away from using hydrogen and oxygen, but NASA is not stupid, they have a lot of phd's working for them and they all account for environmental factors that plays a role into launching the next rockets

also if it was done over the sea, it would kill all the fish around AND rise the water temperature up killing all the coral and other organisms in the sea

NASA also sounds sirens which cause the animals around the launch site to flee away from the sound

so no- I disagree

Answer 7

Birds have better sense than to bee anywhere around when a shuttle launching takes place.

And NASA will be using the Hydrogen/Oxygen system (steam) for the foreseeable future.

Answer 8

Well they are...As soon as the rockets lift off, they head out to sea.

Surely you don't mean that the launch itself should be out in the ocean somewhere??? All that rocking and rolling as the waves toss you around...No, I don't think so. Besides, salt spray corrodes everything.

Answer 9

No because NASA launch areas are normally in places where there are not much animals.Animals tend to stay away from such areas.

Answer 10

This environmental touchie-feelie bovine scat is why nothing gets done.