Bush Plans to Boost Commercial Human Space Flight

Reuters.com ^ | 01/06/05 | Adam Entous and Caren Bohan

[KevinDavis]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush plans to give private industry a greater role in space and encourage new commercial markets, including for human space flight.

In a policy statement released on Thursday, the White House said a big decline in the market for commercial launches had weakened the U.S. space-transportation industry. Major changes were needed in the government's role to ensure America's access to space and protect vital security and economic interests.

[KevinDavis]

I'm sure the space is for science crowd is going to be upset about this..

[KevinDavis]

[Drango]

How much is this gonna cost me?

[stopem]

My thought exactly LOL.

Conservative is as conservative does. I am not opposed to space travel but do the costs to taxpayers (can you say tax reform) outweigh the benefits?

These grandeous ideas are great but it takes money for,
SS reform, Tax reform, Iraq and other wars, Tsunami aid, foreign aid, space travel, leave no child behind, leave no adult behind, and all that is getting the economy behind.
Not to mention pork barrel spending.

Ah the good old days of conservative values. Can it be Bush is a moderate?

[KevinDavis]

Only if you pay to travel to space..

[AntiGuv]

Well, space is for science but I think opening the final frontier up to commercial enterprise is long overdue! So long as they don't slap logos on the moon, that is..

[BlazingArizona]

So long as they don't slap logos on the moon, that is..

Actually my fondest wish is that one day I will be looking up the moon with my Meade, and see strip mines.

[Ksnavely]

I agree, imagine the resources we could tap there. I could be a whole new area of enterprise and wealth creation. I would also like to see some Golden Arches and a big wal mart super center right next to that mine.

[Ksnavely]

The key here is PRIVATE enterprise, which means it won't cost you a dime unless you invest into it, or utilize their services some day. I hope we privatize the whole thing, maybe that way we could start moving forward in our space exploration again. Their is nothing like the change of huge profits (incentives) to motivate people to break barriers and push the envelope.

[RadioAstronomer]

I'm sure the space is for science crowd is going to be upset about this..

Not this kid. (My dream was to be the first director of the radio telescope array on the far side of the moon)

[RadioAstronomer]

I agree, imagine the resources we could tap there. I could be a whole new area of enterprise and wealth creation. I would also like to see some Golden Arches and a big wal mart super center right next to that mine.

I am with ya completely here!

[Professional Engineer]

Actually my fondest wish is that one day I will be looking up the moon with my Meade, and see strip mines.

ROFL, that would be sight, wouldn't it.

[KevinDavis]

I stand corrected.. However, my dream was to go to Alpha Centauri..

[thoughtomator]

Ought to offer a "H-Prize" for the first person capable of sending Hillary to the moon... life support not needed.

[RightWhale]

Commercial space flight is not the key to space. Private property rights to space resources is the key. Can the Pres continue to ignore the President's Commission Report on Moon, Mars and Beyond?

[BlazingArizona]

Commercial space flight is not the key to space. Private property rights to space resources is the key. Can the Pres continue to ignore the President's Commission Report on Moon, Mars and Beyond?

If we "reserve space for science" without private property rights to space assets, we will end up with...Antarctica: an expensive, unused place that only governments go to.

[KevinDavis]

Exactly...

[Willie Green]

Bush Plans to Boost Commercial Human Space Flight

Translation: the weasel is going to outsource NASA to India.

US to ease export controls on India's space, nuclear facilities
Space Deal With U.S. Could Encourage Indian Restraint
US-India space cooperation can benefit developing world

[Barlowmaker]

Too bad we can't build high speed choo-choos to Mars.

[Willie Green]

Maglev technology has potential application for space launches...
But Dubya will probably outsource that to India as well since it's too sophisticated for the illegal immigrant labor force he is importing domesticly.