Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/02/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks for the info, Sonny. I wonder what the per/year outlay for Apollo was, as you give the /year for NCI. There is no question that more could be spent on cancer research, let alone treatment. I take one exception to using the Apollo as a comparison for the search for a cure for cancer. Landing a man on the moon was a great technological feat, but it required not much new in the way of basic science. F=ma is the basic science and has been known since Newton. Protect the occupants and supply sufficient force and you are on your way. Even the astronauts gave tribute to this in their voyage. "I think Isaac Newton is doing most of the driving now." (? Bills Anders, Apollo 8 Commander) I do not mean to slight the efforts of all the people involved in program, and we owe much to the program for giving us the things we enjoy today. The space program has been the thrust of most of our technology advances (along with the military) and even medical technology advances. I was and remain a huge fan of NASA. But there is a lot of basic science about cancer we do not understand. Cancer is a genetic disease, and even with the Human Genome Project, there is a lot we do not know. I have worked at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle on and off for the last 15 years as a teacher of teachers. It is amazing the work that is done there, and how many unanswered questions remain. In the 70's when President Nixon declared war on cancer, I don't think any scientist thought there was a chance of doing this in the same timeframe as project Apollo. They knew that the basic science was lacking, which was not the case for Apollo. I think that if an Apollo type push was begun today, it would have a much better chance of making a real dent in cancer, since so much more is known today than in 1971. Not that there is the desire to do so with the present state on the economy. Aram, ranting on... -----Original Message----- From: Sonny Carter Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 10:53 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] OT (very) The Great Prostate Debate: DoesScreeningSaveLives?: Scientific American And a bit more to think about On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 12:29 PM, Aram Langhans <leica_r8 at hotmail.com> wrote: "At times she would make comments akin to; we can land a man on the moon but...." According to Steve Garber, the NASA History website curator, the final cost of project Apollo was between $20 and $25.4 billion in 1969 Dollars (or approximately $136 billion in 2007 Dollars). National Cancer Institute?s budget for FY 2010 was $5.1* billion, excluding the additional $1.3* billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds received by the Institute for spending in FY 2009 and FY 2010. Overall, NCI?s budget has been relatively flat in recent years. During the period from 2005 through 2010, the NCI budget averaged $4.9* billion per year. Other budgets on interest: Peace corps ----325 million a year NASA -------------- 19 Billion a year Afghanistan----- 170 Billion a year ---- Sorry for my ranting. I just thought it related to the issue of prostrate cancer. It certainly is, Aram. -- Regards, Sonny http://sonc.com/look/ Natchitoches, Louisiana USA