NASA's road back to the moon and onward to Mars, could fall short due to lack of needed funding. NASA's vision of extending the human touch beyond low Earth orbit is being subjected to lack of both White House and Congressional budget support. "The budgets are not there. We're seeing a business as usual approach that is not going to deliver the robust and broad-based exploration program laid out in the vision for space exploration," said Congressman Nick Lampson of Texas' 22nd Congressional District that represents NASA's Johhnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Former shuttle astronaut, Michael Coats, now the 10th director of the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas has said - "The President's fiscal year 2008 budget request is absolutely vital to NASA after the cut we took with the continuing resolution this year".
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6 comments:
costs so much money to simply to launch a space craft out of earth atmosphere alone--NASA should go further than our nearest neighbors to make space exploration worthwhile. spare the expense of sending astronauts to do the work that specialized robots can perform more effectively. fire up the ion thrusters.
The Moon and Mars are desolate and dusty. There are so many incredible worlds to explore beyond Mars. Particularly, our nearest gas giants. We have just begun to explore Jupiter and its incredible moons. I want to see more!
NASA, please take us beyond the red dust of Mars.
Saisondeblog, Great line! Take us beyond! I would trot out the old bubaboo that you have to crawl before you walk, but we have walked there before. But NASA has been comatose for so many years now, that I guess we have to teach the old girl to walk again. What a bother. The thought of new exploration missions to the Moon bore me to tears - I would like to see an astronaut with red dust about holding the flag... But you are so right, the real fun is further out.
I think that private enterprise - which has shown ingenuity with the X-prize - might take the lead here. The X-prize winner - Mojave Aerospace Ventures’ SpaceshipOne - has already shown what can be done with just a few dozen moving parts and a shoe-string budget. And the right attitude...The real issue with crewed space exploration at present is that space medicine is lagging behind other technology - we still haven't adequately or practically solved problems such as radiation exposure and bone loss etc.
Shaun, I really do thing that private enterprise can, should and will play a part in the ultimate push towards a permanent presence in space. The problem being is that even though the US government is losing interest they continue to block truly independent space efforts. There has to be an "if you can't do it, then get out of the way for someone who can" attitude in place and true economic rewards, not bellying up to the government cash bar for tricks well done.
Agreed :)
I just recently watched the DVD Secret Space which had some interesting perspectives as to why the USA never landed on the moon. It sure sounded convincing to me. How about letting go some of the secrets surrounding our technology so we can have something to cheer about? Tom Swift, where are you?
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