President will speak about space future. On C-SPAN now.

[brazucausa]

I would like to know if any of you know what time President Bush will speak about space exploration. I probably would not be able to watch it so I thought it would to be nice if you guys keep me informed and post your opinions about it.

[smith288]

The premise seems very encouraging. Collecting and storing solar power, and using the moon as a re-fueling stop for future space missions. I think the money could be better used here at home though.

I heard the solar power the moon gets could provide the Earth with all the power it needs if we harnessed it correctly. Money saved from energy costs could go towards your socialist programs. ;)

[hopespringseternal]

Robots on moon in '08 and astronauts by 2015-2020. And this is progress?

Note the timing. When NASA screws it up and it doesn't happen, Bush will be out of office.

Besides, four years to put a stinking machine on the moon? I hope something else is going on in that time frame.

The first time we went to the moon, it only took 8.5 years. Now it takes twice that? The details had better be real good, because so far it is looking a little silly.

[CasearianDaoist]

Once they get it moving they can set up the program. I have seen estimates that cut this time line in half. Look for a moon base around 2010 with landings before this. Press reports are all over the place on this. The truth is that NASA will be given a year to come up with a plan. That Mars business is just window dressing, this is really about dominating CIS-Lunar space. The DOD seems to have something "black" going on as well. It is hard to tell but it looks manned.

The Administration does not want to look like they are calling for another pumped up Apollo style program. There are some compelling military reasons to push this up - Son of Star War will not really work unless there is quick, cheap and 24/7 access to space, and most likely will require some sort of permanent manned assets. I think it is a good start that will be accelerated if bush wins this year.

[RightWhale]

Note the funding proposal is a 5% increase for the next 5 years. Bush, realistic above all, is planning on manditory retirement in 5 years no matter what. His budgeted programs will retire with him. Thus, the War on Terrorists also has 5 years to run at most. Bush might expand NASA's horizon, but his own horizon in the White House is maxxed out at 5 years.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I think the plans are for a new spacecraft, too. So, all three plans together do seem ambitious.

[ravingnutter]

I heard the solar power the moon gets could provide the Earth with all the power it needs if we harnessed it correctly. Money saved from energy costs could go towards your socialist programs. ;)

Not to mention the jobs the program will create in the short and long run. Think about how the discovery of Velcro has created a multi-million dollar industry.

[RLK]

I would like to know if any of you know what time President Bush will speak about space exploration.

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Unlike many people here. I don't claim to be psychic. I have no idea what he's going to say. I do know if we are going far into space, we will need to develop and entirely new propulsion system.

[Weimdog]

Space... a bunch of rocks floating around in the sky! Just kidding, well, kind of...

How about doing something here on the ground with our tax dollars... infrastructure, roads, bridges, nuclear power plants, hydrogen power plants, desalinization plants?

[Dead Dog]

The DOD seems to have something "black" going on as well. It is hard to tell but it looks manned.

No kidding, there have been some rumblings about that.

Something to think about also. Not only are we developing a base and the new CEV, but we will be returning the Shuttle to flight status (this fall) and finishing the station up until the time were supposed to return manned craft on the moon.

This will take a new parallel management structure outside of the current NASA bureaucracy. Probably a group this administration can hand pick and impose on NASA.

[mplsconservative]

Welcome to Free Republic! I'm interested in what the President is going to say also, and like you will not be able to catch the speech in full. Hopefully someone will start a live thread and we can catch up later.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

The era of international space cooperation had its time. I believe Bush wishes to propel us with a vision, while at the same time pursuing the missle defense program. Returning to the moon may just give us the edge.

[RightWhale]

NASA TV coverage of his talk will begin in about 20 minutes. He himself will begin speaking a few minutes after. The money proposal is pretty well known, but his mission statement may be a complete surprise. Or not.

[RightWhale]

Hopefully someone will start a live thread

This could be the live thread if the admin rules it so.

[CasearianDaoist]

They ma just junk the whole management structure. If Bush can just get reelected this will really take off. We must find some way to bring down entitlement spending and bout R&D spending very soon while we still have an edge. I come from and R&D background and have been tracking Bush;s Science and Technology policy and I must say that it is very competent, particularly in the DOE, CS and Nano areas. I would think that this is a reasonable plan but that it needs to be goosed in terms of time and money once it get going.

We should have done this 30 years ago. If Reagan would have had another term we would be there now.

[mplsconservative]

Great idea. Gotta go now, darn it! Looking forward to checking back in.

[GingisK]

Always guesstimate high so when you succeed earlier, you look like a genious. ;)

The "old farts" said ten years, and ten years they meant.

[RightWhale]

If Reagan would have had another term we would be there now.

If Bush had a second term likewise. Clinton brought in a bunch of bright young men and trashed everything. Clinton wasn't so bad, but 8 years of marking time is insane for America.

[GingisK]

I think the money could be better used here at home though.

The money will never leave the planet. It never did, even with the original moon program. The money paid American engineers for quality work ... supporting their families and advancing technology very rapidly. All that you have about you now resulted from money that was spent on Earth for that original program.

[CyberCowboy777]

If I may ask - used at home for what?

Government wastes billions every year, lets go after that before we start defunding the space program.

[lancium]

i can't believe they don't have enough to pay social security in 50 years yet they think they have 1bil for a space program.

assuming the gov just doesn't think we'll last that long