Bush Calls for New Moon Landing by 2015

San Jose Mercury News ^ | Jan. 14, 2004 | Paul Recer (A.P.)

[Holly_P]

WASHINGTON - President Bush proposed on Wednesday to develop a new spacecraft to carry Americans back to the moon by 2015, and to establish a long-term base there as an eventual springboard to Mars and beyond.

Bush would withdraw the United States from the International Space Station by 2010 and retire the space shuttle fleet at about the same time. Details of his proposal were released by the White House in advance of a speech by the president at NASA headquarters.

[Prodigal Son]

The moon has one-sixth the gravitational field of Earth, so moon-based aircraft could launch from there more cheaply.

The reporter's not the sharpest crayon in the box is he?

[Holly_P]

The reporter's not the sharpest crayon in the box is he?

I'm not even in the crayon box on this subject but it didn't sound right to me either.

[Professional Engineer]

The reporter's not the sharpest crayon in the box is he?

Well, an aircraft could be used to visit the US flag planted on Mars afterall.

[Jim Cane]

Bush Calls for New Moon Landing by 2015.

"If it's during a new moon, the astronauts won't be able to see it and will sail right on by." ~ Sheila Jackson Lee

[ambrose]

I am looking forward to the day that we launch a mission from the Moon to Uranus.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Bush Calls for New Moon Landing by 2015

I doubt that considering it looks like the United States is going to collapse before 2015.

[KansasConservative1]

"The moon has one-sixth the gravitational field of Earth, so moon-based aircraft could launch from there more cheaply."

The initial earth launch of the people and materials to produce the moon based aircraft is not included in this equation I assume.

[RightWhale]

This is wild guessing based on rumor. The president is speaking now, and this piece was written earlier.

[SamAdams76]

A few years back, there was a "biosphere" project going on that was supposed to simulate a base on a different planet. The airtight dome was self-sustaining and recycled everything, including human waste. Scientists were put in this bubble for a year at a time and they were not allowed in or out. Does anybody know how those experiments panned out?

[Holly_P]

"If it's during a new moon, the astronauts won't be able to see it and will sail right on by." ~ Sheila Jackson Lee

Tell me you made that up.

Nobody's that dumb.

[snopercod]

"snopercod calls for universal happiness by 2015"

Both headlines are equally likely to come about.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Prodigal Son]

LOL, well, actually the reporter is probably right. I mean, the American flag was obviously flapping in the breeze on the Moon so their must've been air to flap in ;-)

[Jim Cane]

Tell me you made that up. Nobody's that dumb.

I made it up, and yes, she's actually dumber than that.

She wanted know if the Mars Rover landed anywhere near the flag that Neil Armstrong planted.

[george wythe]

My head is spinning after reading this article.

Am I in the the moon-based aircraft yet?

[Riley]

Bush Calls for New Moon Landing by 2015

Dang! Its' 1547 right now, that gives me a little over four hours to get in front of a TV!!

[New Horizon]

Bush Calls for New Moon Landing by 2015...

Excellent! I may not be dead by then.

I have to say in all series-ness that I am "deeply saddened" that I will likely not witness anything but this possible return to the moon in my lifetime.

Space exploration is probably the most challenging and exciting thing that mankind has ever done, IMO.

Damn, just give me a couple of hundred more years.

Oh, wait! The moon landings were all staged. I forgot.

[GSWarrior]

Would it be right to disturb the pristine valleys and seas that are on the moon?

end sarcasm