'Operation Overlord' Cancelled

Associated Content ^ | March 2nd, 2010 | Mark R. Whittington

[Marcus]

Recently President Obama canceled Project Constellation that would return Americans to the Moon by 2020. Some maintain that Constellation was over budget, behind schedule and needed cancellation. What if we had approached another project the same way?

Amalgamated Press. January 26th, 1944. General George C. Marshall today announced that the planned invasion of Europe has been canceled. There have long been rumors of cost overruns and other problems plaguing the planned invasion, which was designated 'Operation Overlord', which General Marshall referred to in his announcement and subsequent press conference.

[In veno, veritas]

I've got to post and run, but this is a ridiculous comparison. When we invaded Europe, we had a clear and concise goal to defeat Nazi Germany. Why do we want to go to the moon? Get more rocks? If there is anything economically attractive there, get the government out of the way and let the entrepreneurs handle it.

[NonZeroSum]

Not only that, but Eisenhower had a sound plan for the invasion. Even if getting to the moon was important, Constellation was a horrifically expensive and ineffective way to do it, relative to alternatives. It was more like Dieppe than Normandy.

[NonZeroSum]

Not only that, but Eisenhower had a sound plan for the invasion. Even if getting to the moon was important, Constellation was a horrifically expensive and ineffective way to do it, relative to alternatives. It was more like Dieppe than Normandy.

[Bean Counter]

[tet68]

Constellation was a horrifically expensive and ineffective way to do it, relative to alternatives.

Alternatives?
Care to elaborate?

[chris_bdba]

We want to go back to the moon because it is an excellent place to start deep space exploration from. Most Americans have no idea that so many of our common medical treatments came from the space program. Take for example DNA recombinate insulin which is commonly used today instead of the old animal based that attacked the body.

[NonZeroSum]

Alternatives? Care to elaborate?

Read this.

[In veno, veritas]

Again, you're answer doesn't have any clear goal behind it. Although I'll agree that we've had many benefits from the space program, the overall objectives are unclear (unlike Normandy). And this problem is an economic problem; with so many potential benefits to explore, how do we choose which ones to pursue? With a government agency, it's arbitrary and can lack the necessary incentives to be efficient. However, if it is worth the government going to space to provide benefits to people, then it must also be worth a private industry to do it too. And with competition, it provides the incentive to be efficient at it.