I just noticed Brewsters banner (observant, aren’t I?) I went to school with Space Guy and Spacy and Spaz, and Gumby and Bong Shot. We didn’t end up in any hoity toity private college but went to state universities, state penitentiaries, and Vietnam.Some talk of cause/effect but I don’t believe in superstition.
The US space program was usually less than 1% of the federal budget, and its returns were massive. The technology developed has improved our lives and advanced our scientific knowledge. A strong and viable space program is the only hope we have for survival after we finish turning this planet into a garbage dump.
Obama simply carried out the plans made by the Bush administration (just as he did in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the US economy, which makes me wonder why so many right-wingers hate him)..In any case, it’s been time to retire the shuttles for, oh, at least the last twenty years. They’ve been very useful as experimental craft, teaching us a lot about how not to build a spacecraft, but they’ve never even come close to fulfilling their promises for reliability, safety and cost. And thirty years of operating the shuttle has distracted NASA from its true mission of exploring space. Time for NASA to focus on trips to the moon, or Mars, or a comet, or whatever, and let private industry deal with the routine business of putting people and stuff into low orbit.
…I am usual in Obama’s corner on things,but cutting Nasa’s budget is beyond me.They are always talking about the private sector doing things better and for less…but somehow I see the Chinese being first to Mars.
It’s funny,we can spend all that money on Star Wars,but none on reaching the stars…
…unless..we already have a deep space program secretly traveling the stars and protecting our planet…but that ‘s just a pipe dream that no one would think ’sirius’ about….
KVossler,Bush pulled that plug seven years ago, after Columbia. The STS is a logical and necessary step “to the stars”. Without space stations and space telescopes, we’ll never be able to build the jumping off point for anything interplanetary, much less interstellar. If we had put every cent of the STS into a program to reach the stars, we’d still be looking at enormous and even insurmountable obstacles; technical issues that can’t be addressed by current technology. Even at the speed of light, it would take over 4 years to reach the nearest star, and unless the travelers had a place to park, or the means to build a station, they’d have to turn around and come home. Long drive just to take a few photos. I’ve been a space cadet since 61, when my teacher assigned me to document the early space launches and write a report to the class. We had one TV in the school, in the auditorium, and that’s where I went. Now I can talk to Shuttle crews via Ham Radio. Incredible, but a long way from transporters and Warp Drive. Give us time, We’ll get there.
OK, lets go for a larger space program, but who wants sacrifice present and future social security payments, cut our military, end our wars (started by GW Bush lets recall, before laying all the blame on Obama), pay more taxes (of course it is always someone elses taxes that should be raised first, and of course if we cut taxes instead that somehow increases tax income in the end, and somehow it ends up with the richest getting the best tax cuts) , etc., and balance our federal government while doing none of the above.—Sorry, no space program; we live in a dream world of how to fund our government.
Gotta agree here. Though to say that Bush killed it is not quite accurate, there was always an end date for the current STS system. What bothers me is that there was never a Next Generation System in mind. But hey, we can sure get those Muslims interested can’t we?
lewisbower almost 13 years ago
I just noticed Brewsters banner (observant, aren’t I?) I went to school with Space Guy and Spacy and Spaz, and Gumby and Bong Shot. We didn’t end up in any hoity toity private college but went to state universities, state penitentiaries, and Vietnam.Some talk of cause/effect but I don’t believe in superstition.
phuhknees almost 13 years ago
NASA is soOOoo over. High time for the private sector to step up to the plate.
Sandfan almost 13 years ago
The US space program was usually less than 1% of the federal budget, and its returns were massive. The technology developed has improved our lives and advanced our scientific knowledge. A strong and viable space program is the only hope we have for survival after we finish turning this planet into a garbage dump.
wicky almost 13 years ago
Nuff’ said.
puddleglum1066 almost 13 years ago
Obama simply carried out the plans made by the Bush administration (just as he did in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the US economy, which makes me wonder why so many right-wingers hate him)..In any case, it’s been time to retire the shuttles for, oh, at least the last twenty years. They’ve been very useful as experimental craft, teaching us a lot about how not to build a spacecraft, but they’ve never even come close to fulfilling their promises for reliability, safety and cost. And thirty years of operating the shuttle has distracted NASA from its true mission of exploring space. Time for NASA to focus on trips to the moon, or Mars, or a comet, or whatever, and let private industry deal with the routine business of putting people and stuff into low orbit.
3hourtour Premium Member almost 13 years ago
…I am usual in Obama’s corner on things,but cutting Nasa’s budget is beyond me.They are always talking about the private sector doing things better and for less…but somehow I see the Chinese being first to Mars.
It’s funny,we can spend all that money on Star Wars,but none on reaching the stars…
3hourtour Premium Member almost 13 years ago
…unless..we already have a deep space program secretly traveling the stars and protecting our planet…but that ‘s just a pipe dream that no one would think ’sirius’ about….
Packratjohn Premium Member almost 13 years ago
KVossler,Bush pulled that plug seven years ago, after Columbia. The STS is a logical and necessary step “to the stars”. Without space stations and space telescopes, we’ll never be able to build the jumping off point for anything interplanetary, much less interstellar. If we had put every cent of the STS into a program to reach the stars, we’d still be looking at enormous and even insurmountable obstacles; technical issues that can’t be addressed by current technology. Even at the speed of light, it would take over 4 years to reach the nearest star, and unless the travelers had a place to park, or the means to build a station, they’d have to turn around and come home. Long drive just to take a few photos. I’ve been a space cadet since 61, when my teacher assigned me to document the early space launches and write a report to the class. We had one TV in the school, in the auditorium, and that’s where I went. Now I can talk to Shuttle crews via Ham Radio. Incredible, but a long way from transporters and Warp Drive. Give us time, We’ll get there.
Timesabroom almost 13 years ago
OK, lets go for a larger space program, but who wants sacrifice present and future social security payments, cut our military, end our wars (started by GW Bush lets recall, before laying all the blame on Obama), pay more taxes (of course it is always someone elses taxes that should be raised first, and of course if we cut taxes instead that somehow increases tax income in the end, and somehow it ends up with the richest getting the best tax cuts) , etc., and balance our federal government while doing none of the above.—Sorry, no space program; we live in a dream world of how to fund our government.
Stephen Gilberg almost 13 years ago
Why would we want to make it to the STARS, anyway? We’d burn up before landing. :-P
BillWa almost 13 years ago
Gotta agree here. Though to say that Bush killed it is not quite accurate, there was always an end date for the current STS system. What bothers me is that there was never a Next Generation System in mind. But hey, we can sure get those Muslims interested can’t we?
corzak almost 13 years ago
Winky would be a lighter and more long-range projectile if some of his heavier and less necessary organs were removed.
Ermine Notyours almost 13 years ago
Uh, shouldn’t Brewser be the one doing the aiming?
willettd almost 13 years ago
Obama cancelled the replacement Orion program.
Sherlock Watson almost 13 years ago
When Brewster was asked to create a new form of space travel, he said, “I’ll take a shot at it.”