Log In | Register
President Obama is calling on NASA to cancel the program that was to return humans to the Moon by 2020, and focus instead on radically new space technologies.
Obama Calls for End to NASA's Moon Program
Seeded on Mon Feb 1, 2010 3:53 PM EST
Article Source: The New York Times- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (4)
I'm on the fence about this. I think this could bring an explosion of private enterprise in space, or it could mean the eventual end of a US space program.
#1 - Mon Feb 1, 2010 3:57 PM ESTUnderstand this, NASA got a raise. Yes, their budget grew.
NASA FY2011 Budget Overview dated Feb 1 2010 (PDF)
Most important, we are not ending our ambitions to explore space. In order to explore new frontiers, we are launching a vigorous new technology development and test program that will pursue game-changing technology development that can take us further and faster and more affordably into space.
Look through the budget, more mars missions planned...
- 1 vote
I think it's a great idea to kill the moon mission. The moon is a dead, useless rock and we don't need spend billions more to gather more samples of moon rocks. I think the process of privatizing the space industry should be slow and deliberate. Much like DARPA puts out grants for competitions in new defense-related technology, NASA should similarly offer grants so that competing companies can come up with the best space technologies. I am sad to see the shuttle fleet retired, but it was way overdue after almost 30 years. Unfortunately, the previous administration had no backup plan for when the shuttle fleet retired. It would have been nice to have a newer, shuttle-like space vehicle in the wings, but maybe private industry can come up with a better and more economical, reusable solution.
#2 - Mon Feb 1, 2010 4:19 PM ESTThe moon is a dead, useless rock
Talk to me again in twenty years when we've gotten fusion working and are regretting the head start we've given China in staking out He3 mines there.
#3 - Mon Feb 1, 2010 4:52 PM ESTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
