Obama Targets 2025 for Asteroid Landing, 2030s for Mars

Science Insider ^ | 06/28/10 | Yudhijit Bhattacharjee

[KevinDavis]

President Barack Obama today released a National Space Policy that affirms the Administration's commitment to commercial space flight. The policy also lays down the mid-2030s as a target date for the first human flight to Mars and 2025 as a target for a human mission to a nearby asteroid. The mention of the two timetables appears to be an attempt by the White House to counter criticism over Obama's new plan for NASA, which some lawmakers say lacks clear direction and goals. The release of the policy is also a signal that Obama is not prepared to back off from the fight that has begun in Congress over the president's proposed termination of the Constellation program.

[KevinDavis]

I wish I could believe him, but I don't..

[KevinDavis]

[Political Junkie Too]

Does Obama know which asteroid to kick?

-PJ

[Molon Labbie]

Hell, under his space program, an asteroid has more of a chance to land on us than we do on it...

[Jack Hydrazine]

SpaceX will get there first unless they get regulated out of existence by the bureaucrats first.

[aruanan]

He kills real programs doing real things right now in the present while promising glorious sounding feats far off in the future that actually depend on those very programs he is killing.

[EGPWS]

Plug the damn black hole!

[hometoroost]

He’s scheduled the solar landing for some night in 2019

[nascarnation]

Don’t be so sure. After they make Mars the 58th state,
SEIU can unionize and ACORN can organize.

[Yossarian]

Obama also targets:

• Slicing the deficit in half by 2013;
• Doubling of exports in five years;
• Complete Transparency in his administration;
• An end to government-paid abortions (through executive order);
• An unemployment rate going no higher than 8%, then dropping;
• The lowering oceans of ocean levels through his mighty magnificence;
• etc., etc.

Does anyone believe anything he says anymore?

[OldDeckHand]

"Obama Targets 2025 for Asteroid Landing, 2030s for Mars"

Terrific. When does he leave?

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Is he willing to lead the expedition?

[KevinDavis]

Nope.. Check my next posting..

[Cyclone59]

I am sure that he plans on still being in office when this happens.

[MaxMax]

Send Zero low on fuel.

[beethovenfan]

I want Obama on an asteroid RIGHT NOW!!

[LiberConservative]

Plug the damn hole in the gulf. Stupid B@st@rd.

[The Comedian]

In 2025, my grandchildren will be pi$$ing on his grave, right here on earth, in the observation park on the east side of the New American Space Port (a completely free-will capitalist endeavor).

The one good thing Barry will bequeath to our progeny will be the complete destruction of the nation-state, and the breaking of the shackles of government-controlled space exploration and utilization.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[NonValueAdded]

You see, JFK already said "go to the moon" and the O-child didn't want sloppy seconds so he had to say go to Mars.

Forget that the moon makes a great training base and at least the possibility of a rescue mission or emergency resupply in days rather than months.

[ItsForTheChildren]

Obama Targets 2025 for Asteroid Landing

I'm certain that if we, as a nation, put our minds to it we can get him there faster.