Obama Puts Entire NASA Space Program On Hold

FoxNews ^ | Thursday, May 07, 2009

[Joiseydude]

WASHINGTON — The White House has ordered a complete outside review of NASA's manned space program, including plans to return astronauts to the moon.

Officials want a report from an independent panel by August. White House science adviser John Holdren said Thursday that the new panel will look at the design of new spacecraft to replace the space shuttle and go to the moon, as well as consider possible alternatives to the current design.

In a letter to NASA, Holdren wrote that because of the magnitude of the manned space program's ambitions and its expense, "it would be only prudent for the new Administration to review the array of challenges in the program."

[Joiseydude]

So much for science being the path to the future.

[Mojave]

Obama probably believes the moon landings were fake.

[N. Theknow]

Obama Puts Entire NASA Space Program On Hold by placing cotton in his ears.

[Bringbackthedraft]

In a letter to NASA, Holdren wrote that because of the magnitude of the manned space program’s ambitions and its expense, “it would be only prudent... ...................... Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, and neat inventions derived from the space program that will make even more jobs! Duhhhh!

[Sybeck1]

So Chrissy Matthews? We’re the ones against science??

[y6162]

Obamachev = antiKennedy

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[AngelesCrestHighway]

“Community organizer” stops space program. Could someone launch OBozo into orbit please?

[enraged]

Although I think most all Gov. programs should be put thru an independant review to eleiminate waste and the human sponges sucking the blood out of our contry. I doubt anything will come of this of value other than lining the pockets of B.O.’s friends.

[DBrow]

He promised to can the manned space program, and explicitly the lunar program, in order to use the money for education.

This was on his campaign website (off and on and on again, but it was sometimes there).

So he’s actually keeping a campaign promise!

[JTHomes]

Besides, should we be sending people to the moon when we have kids without healthcare? Gack!

[dan1123]

Of course, the media reports it as a prudent examination of funds. The democrat = pro-science, republican = anti-science belief would hold even if Obama shut down the national science foundation.

[SlowBoat407]

It only makes sense. Schumer’s gang put R&D out to pasture in this country in 1974, Obama’s going to finish the job by slowing or halting the one good stimulus the government ever created.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

White people work at NASA.

Government money is for black people.

[N. Theknow]

My next-door-step neighbor-in-law's brother say he knows a guy who was a Navy Special Forces Seal Beret, later went over to the CIA, that was a guard at the warehouse where the landings were filmed before he got shipped of to Nam and met up with a guy that President Nixon sent into Cambodia to watch Buddhists celebrate Christmas a month before Nixon was inaugurated.

As proof he says this guy told the other guy he was CIA and gave him his hat to hold.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Obama Cool sayz: Exploring space is not an ACLU kinda thing. Dig?....while throwning taxpayer money at ACORN?....well, I can relate to that!....

[Campion]

Maybe the Chinese will loan us some money so we can buy some of their spacecraft. That’s how we do everything else in this country.

[ArrogantBustard]

NASA is not perfect ... but people WORK at NASA. They actually produce stuff, operate stuff, accomplish things. Not as well as they should, but they do it. They have an ongoing history of real, concrete, factual, verifiable achievement.

Zero?

Not so much.

[shotgun]

Reminds me of my childhood in the late 60’s. One of neighbors on my block had a son that I went to school with, and this family was extremely poor, anyway he was always complaining that we should be spending money on helping out the poor instead of flying to the moon...

I sure bet he likes all of the modern conviences now that are a direct result of all of those missions..

[ETL]

From February 2008...

Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs

February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com

A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.

The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:

Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.

First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]

Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.

I will slow our development of future combat systems.

And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.

Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.

You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.

Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:
http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp

"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."
_____________________________________________________________

"I will not weaponize space"

2008 Pentagon Report (March 2008):
China's Growing Military Space Power
By Leonard David
Special Correspondent, SPACE.com
March 6, 2008

GOLDEN, Colorado — A just-released Pentagon report spotlights a growing U.S. military concern that China is developing a multi- dimensional program to limit or prevent the use of space-based assets by its potential adversaries during times of crisis or conflict.

Furthermore, last year's successful test by China of a direct-ascent, anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon to destroy its own defunct weather satellite, the report adds, underscores that country's expansion from the land, air, and sea dimensions of the traditional battlefield into the space and cyber-space domains.

Although China's commercial space program has utility for non- military research, that capability demonstrates space launch and control know-how that have direct military application. Even the Chang'e 1 — the Chinese lunar probe now circling the Moon — is flagged in the report as showcasing China's ability "to conduct complicated space maneuvers — a capability which has broad implications for military counterspace operations."

To read the entire publication [29.67MB/pdf], see U.S. Dept of Defense:
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/China_Military_Report_08.pdf
_____________________________________________________________

[2009] Russia, China plan new joint military exercises

By MARTIN SIEFF, UPI Senior News Analyst
Published: March 26, 2009

WASHINGTON, March 26 (UPI) -- The continuing tensions over Russia's refusal to sell its state-of-the-art land warfare advanced weapons systems to China hasn't interrupted the rhythm of major joint military exercises between the two major land powers on the Eurasian landmass. The latest in the regular, biennial series of exercises between the two nations has been confirmed for this summer.

The next in the now well-established series of exercises called Peace Mission 2009 will be carried out in northeastern China, the Russian Defense Ministry announced March 18, according to a report carried by the RIA Novosti news agency.

The first bilateral Peace Mission maneuvers -- described at the time as counter-terrorism exercises -- were held in Russia and the eastern Chinese province of Shandong in August 2005. As we reported at that time, they were a lot bigger than mere counter-terrorism exercises. Warships, squadrons of combat aircraft and more than 10,000 troops were involved carrying out landings against hypothetically hostile shores. The maneuvers also involved large-scale paratroops drops. The scale and nature of those exercises suggested a trial run for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan with Russian support. ..."

http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2009/03/26/Russia_China_plan_new_joint_military_exercises/UPI-25021238094858/
_____________________________________________________________

From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html