Donald Trump thinks going to Mars would be 'wonderful' but there is a catch

Houston Space Examiner ^ | august 16, 2015 | Mark R. Whittington

[Marcus]

Donald Trump, the mercurial real estate tycoon and media personality who, much to the surprise of one and all, has become the front-runner for the Republican nomination for president opened his mind just a little about his attitude toward space exploration, according to a Saturday story in Forbes. In an answer to a question put to him about sending humans to Mars, the current focus at NASA, Trump said, ““Honestly, I think it’s wonderful; I want to rebuild our infrastructure first, ok? I think it’s wonderful.” In other words, dreams of going to Mars must take a back seat to more Earthly concerns. It is not an answer many space exploration supporters want to hear.

[brivette]

he’s talking now..

[paintriot]

Yep. Lets get out of the hole before we take to Mars. When Newt said he would put us on the moon again and mars, it was a great sentiment, but with the state of the nations finances it sounded out of touch with our current problems which I might add have dramatically worsened. I love space exploration, but lets make America great again first and all these things will follow.

[Sequoyah101]

the current focus at NASA, Trump said, ““Honestly, I think it’s wonderful; I want to rebuild our infrastructure first, ok? I think it’s wonderful.” In other words, dreams of going to Mars must take a back seat to more Earthly concerns.

A PERFECTLY REASONABLE POSITION TO TAKE. WE DON’T NEED TO GO TO MARS. Well, some people may need to go to Mars but we don’t need to pay for it.

[Longbow1969]

He has mentioned “rebuilding our infrastructure” several times now. Is Trump talking about another stimulus? Hope he clarifies exactly what he means by this. This idea that we have to “rebuild our infrastructure” is typically a Democrat talking point and code for massive spending on make work union jobs. No thanks on that, I’d rather we go to Mars.

[Paladin2]

I’d be satisfied with exiling Boner, H->, and Mitch on the Moon.

[oh8eleven]

In other words, dreams of going to Mars must take a back seat to more Earthly concerns. It is not an answer many space exploration supporters want to hear.
Well, that's too bad. If you want to go to Mars, start your own space exploration company.
Hell, we're still paying for thirty years of the Space Shuttle where we got zero, zip, nada in return.

[FatherofFive]

Well, some people may need to go to Mars but we don’t need to pay for it.

Lets send all the muslims and democrats. The democrats know how to make something from nothing, by passing laws. And I just want to get rid of all muslims.

[ETL]

According to Sheila Jackass Lee we've been to Mars already.

Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat)
Member of the U.S. House
of Representatives
from Texas's 18th district

On a visit to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2005, Jackson Lee made embarrassing news by asking if the Mars Pathfinder had taken an image of the flag planted there in 1969 by Neil Armstrong.[2]

Prior to the 110th Congress, Jackson Lee served on the House Science Committee and on the Subcommittee that oversees space policy and NASA.

http://web.archive.org/web/20100409095818/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Jackson_Lee

[GoneSalt]

With the new discoveries in engine research, a little time for preparation and a serious planet exploring vehicle could be contemplated, instead of an irradiated aluminum foil 1-way trip.

[oldtech]

Then Sheila should be first to go on the next trip. There are a few others who could be included.

[plain talk]

Rebuilding infrastructure is what the democrats want to do also.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Trump: “Of course there is a big catch with us going to Mars. There are no customers there for the casinos I plan to build.”

[SunkenCiv]

Honestly, I think it's wonderful; I want to rebuild our infrastructure first, ok? I think it's wonderful.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Let commercial space take care of going to the Moon and Mars.

[Captain Rhino]

Yeah, of course; because the greatest nation in the world can’t do or afford more than one thing at a time.

You know who is very happy about Trump saying that? The Russians and the Chinese. Because they know these missions take a long, long time to develop and you have to invest continuously (at reasonable levels) over that period to develop and mature the needed technology so that it is ready and reliable.

So, when we are finally “ready,” (after coring out our own R&D), we will just call up the Russians and the Chinese and ask them to share their research with us. We will even offer to pay a good price. That’s what a good businessman like Donald would do, right? But not everything is available for money, not even for a lot of it. And they (the Russians and Chinese) won’t be interested in assisting the “has been” United States at that point. They will only be interested in seeing their primary rival for world prestige and influence disappear in the rear view mirror as they go on to establish human outposts on the Moon and colonize Mars (and beyond).

Of course, “President” Donald will be gone from office by then and will not be interested in discussing the past or being responsible for his damaging decisions. Just another example of some more short term, only the bottom line counts thinking from the business man (albeit a very successful one, to be sure) that doesn’t even have one day of elected government executive experience.

Sheesh!

[anymouse]

Trump, the meme-bater. He even looks like a troll. LOL

[Leep]

Interesting adjectives they use to describe Trump. “mercurial”

[PIF]

Translation: I know nothing about space or exploration, and since there are no benefits, not on my watch.

[SunkenCiv]

The big money will be in asteroids. The money will be so big, in fact, that it will finance all the costs, plus incidentals (like colonization), and bring down the price of materials like titanium, platinum metals, gold, and silver to the point that something new will be needed to further expand.