Presidency slashes the constelation program- no alternatives in sight at ALL.

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

About 10% of US population is on food stamps. Health care cost is killing us, with annual double digit (percentage wise) cost increase. Tens of millions of people have no health insurance at all. There are fewer and fewer companies offering pension plans, with many companies already canceled their pension planes. Our national debt is about 12 trillions (12 000 000 000 000) of dollars and our total debt is higher then the entire planet GDP. If I am not mistaken, as of right now, we would not qualify joining EU because of our level of budget deficit.

 

Those are the reasons why we have to cut our scientific programs. There is no sense in arguing scientific aspect of this subject when the simple facts show that that we simply run out of money.

 

I love NASA. I was in Houston space center numerous times and occasionally walk out on my front yard to observe ISS flying over my house. NASA have brought us all kind of scientific and real life advances, one of which may completely change our lifes in the near future (see energy servers blog on daily tech).

 

But, we just ran out of money at the moment and have to make painful cuts of many programs.

[Pilotasso]

LOL Americans dont do anything small do they? :D

 

But on the other hand they didnt cut, they are actualy going to spend more on the space program by shifting priorities. I advise you to read my link instead of just assuming we are talking about cut backs.

Edited March 10, 2010 by Pilotasso

[Feuerfalke]

Guys let's not act like "Chicken Little" the fact of the matter is that we (the United States of America) have already been to the moon; what is there to be accomplished be reliving the same achievement decades later? !

 

Now, that's an easy one.

 

If we're going to the Mars, the moon will be the first step.

 

And why now? Simply because we now have knowledge and technology that wasn't there 35 years ago. Starting with the ability to produce water from the moons surface up to using the moons resources. Not to forget that any Mars-mission will depend on a tested system of long-term life and health support and planetary exploration, which for obvious reasons cannot be tested on earth and not on the ISS.

[jpm1]

i think farer than the moon missions main challenge will be to know how to maintain humans in life during such a long time .

 

... Our national debt is about 12 trillions (12 000 000 000 000) of dollars ...

 

i'm just speechless , that's what happen with credits when you measure the consequences it's too late . capitalism really needs to be put under some surveillance

[DarkWanderer]

the US which always have been the leader in space exploration stop the project

Don't mean to start a holy war, but many achievements like the first satellite, the first man in orbit, first lunar lander, first lunar orbiter, first Venus impact probe etc. belong to USSR. So this is a little against truth.

 

As for the topic - my opinion is it is wise decision. In addition to Hajduk's words, if one has 35 years of technology advancement - there's no reason to stick with 1965's concepts. There is quite a handful of promising concepts - SSTO's as example. Lockheed Martin had major advancements in the X-33 program - I think, it's a good direction to dig. At least, for the beginning.

Edited March 11, 2010 by DarkWanderer

[jpm1]

Don't mean to start a holy war, but many achievements like the first satellite, the first man in orbit, first lunar lander, first lunar orbiter, first Venus impact probe etc. belong to USSR. So this is a little against truth.

 

As for the topic - my opinion is it is wise decision. In addition to Hajduk's words, if one has 35 years of technology advancement - there's no reason to stick with 1965's concepts. There is quite a handful of promising concepts - SSTO's as example. Lockheed Martin had major advancements in the X-33 program - I think, it's a good direction to dig. At least, for the beginning.

 

what you mention in your post first part show the Russian people genius but it belongs to the communism era it makes me dream a bit less . This been said i have to admit that you're right on the idea . the thing i wanted to say it's that in the US there weren't forbidding rules (or very few) and the space exploration/moon landing represented that in a great way

[Brit_Radar_Dude]

I can remember as a child staying up till the early hours of the morning (in the UK) with my Dad. We were glued to the TV to watch Niel take that first step back in the Summer of 1969. That memory has stayed with me for life.

 

The next 5 or 6 years for me were a roller-coaster thrill - colour pictures from the Moon, the Moon buggy, etc. It seemed that science and technology had no bounds. I always thought that I would live long enough to see a man walk on Mars. I doubt it will happen in my lifetime now.......

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

But on the other hand they didnt cut, they are actualy going to spend more on the space program by shifting priorities. I advise you to read my link instead of just assuming we are talking about cut backs.

Did you read the article from your link Pilotasso? Let me remind you of the title:

 

NASA grieves over canceled program

[Pilotasso]

Did you read the article from your link Pilotasso? Let me remind you of the title:

 

NASA grieves over canceled program

 

The president is not cuting back NASA budget for economy. The white howse flat out killed the constellation program in trade for nothing.

Read slower. The development of this link at the bottom of that page is:

 

The 2011 proposed budget for NASA, announced on Monday, cancels the Constellation program to build new rockets and spacecraft optimized for the moon, but increases NASA's overall budget by $6 billion over the next five years. Of that $6 billion, about $2 billion will be funneled into new and existing science missions, particularly those aimed at investigating the Earth sciences, particularly climate .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35206524/ns/technology_and_science-science/

 

It doesnt get any clearer than this.

;)

Edited March 11, 2010 by Pilotasso

[EtherealN]

Well, you get ten times or more science for the dollar on unmanned missions than you do on manned missions. (The shuttle was to be paying for itself on the science. It didn't. ISS was to pay for itself through science... and after costs went up by more than the power of ten it STILL doesn't.) If I paid tax money to NASA I'd be delirious with joy. It's only when you don't have to feel the sting in your wallet that you can be enthusiastic about manned missions right now, IMO.

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Pilotasso, my friend, these are two different links you are showing in your below post?

 

My comment was about the article from you opening post and that one is titled "NASA grieves over canceled program" and is all about programs cancellations. Now you have another link... All right, that's fine, if I have time I'll read it.

 

Next time, when you want to talk about something, pick the right link to open discussion.

 

Regards,

 

The president is not cuting back NASA budget for economy. The white howse flat out killed the constellation program in trade for nothing.

Read slower. The development of this link at the bottom of that page is:

 

 

 

It doesnt get any clearer than this.

;)

[Pilotasso]

So now its my fault you spoke too soon before beeing properly informed :D

Edited March 11, 2010 by Pilotasso

[Wilde]

Both articles were old news. If you google around a little you'll find that total suggested budget for NASA was increased by some $200 million (to a flat $19 billion). According to the plan there are to be $6 billion spent over the next years. But that's just a "plan". Last year it was planned to spend close to $20 billion in 2011 and there was no mentioning of a cut in human space exploration. Expect plans to change for next year again.

 

It's not the end for human space travel. There are other countries just starting their space conquering adventures. And the US will be back eventually too. They just cancelled a Bush-administration program.

[Pilotasso]

Not just a bush administration program, the intent is to leave human flight in charge of private companies who have lots to catch up.

[A.S]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35209628

 

 

I guess the society needs more encyclopedia salesmen, or truckers than scientists in this overpopulated overpoluted changing world :)

 

Population fits into Texas with enough ground to supply themself with food !

 

You dont believe me? Calculate in down

 

overpopulation :doh:

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

So now its my fault you spoke too soon before beeing properly informed :D

Ha, ha, ha ... This indeed me laugh!! :lol:

[jpm1]

space exploration is cool

[tflash]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8565243.stm

 

We are not the only ones to be disappointed.

[Pilotasso]

Yep, its sad that it takes politics to both dictate the need or lack there off space exploration. With Ares there was only the knowelege side of things, no politics or muscle measuring. Whata a shame it takes such. In a few years I think they will ressurrect it back again but it will represent 10-20 years of delay. Mission to mars probably only in the 22nd century, a full 100 years after achieving the necessary techology.

[jpm1]

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