stavy asks:Can the Space Race be green?

Why aren't others doing the same?--we haven't a clue, for it seems only logical that those entities with the know-how also seem to have the sense to actually institute their energy goals into the total project. NASA, NREL, and most other really serious outfits are normally at the forefront of the technology issues. Bravo for NASA's achievements. Now to get really green, they might give up the rocket fuel (yuk!) and catapult or sling-shot our heros into space!

I'm thinking that the private landowners aren't doing the same because they may not have as much money as NASA does.

Putting up solar arrays is not that expensive. Plus governments are trying to encourage people to go solar with tax breaks, cash grants, and incentives.. Now is a great time to do it. Not only that, if you are somewhere like colorado with abundant free sunshine, solar panels would probably pay for themselves in no time at all... if you have land, and want to be greener... it's the way to go.. perhpas get together with others and pay for it between you, sharing the power benefits...

Poor old NASA have been starved of funds for over a decade and it makes financial sense for them to become partly self sufficient with power.

balanced with the benefits of the technology developed when we reach for the stars... the advantages for man for instance in the development of LEDs, Freeze dried food, aircraft anti-icing systems, water purification, and many other things. came to us as spinoffs from technology NASA developed for the space program

Can I take a stab at the other part of the question? As blasting off with some kind of fuel combustion- propulsion is where we're at now, I don't think space travel can be green with this technology. If there was some kind of breakthrough, say, with magnetics or "folding space" (a la Dune), then I think the Space Race could definitely be very green.