These aren't "challenging" times... we're in the "dire times" zone now... we just hit the debt ceiling... there's no money. Nada.
To go to any lengths beyond the ISS will require far more than "chump change," unless you consider estimates of upwards of 1$T "chump change."
No one is pointing blame at NASA... my point is.. given the current multiple priorities this country faces, space exploration is something that deserves an honored spot on the back burner.
We need that or we will lose our way forever.
A case could be made that we've already lost our way. Whether it's "forever" depends on how we attack the more pressing problems we face.
I watched with pride in July 1969 when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. It was truly a great step forward... but we aren't the same nation anymore. Pursuing deeper space adventures now would be akin to re-roofing a house with the finest architectural shingles on the market, while ignoring the termites busily devouring the studwork into dust and the elements turning the foundation to gravel.
In the future, perhaps an enhanced space program could be pursued by private interests... but as for our tax dollars being poured into it.. no thanks.
Well.
GLad they didnt wait until Europe solved their problems to establish Jamestown.
Your view is incredibly myopic and short sighted.
Again, for some reason it’s not registering.
It’s chump change in the big picture.
We can afford to defend this nation with hundreds of billions.
We can afford a tiny portion of that to assure we have a future worth defending.
Your battle is with entitlements. Again, you could remove NASA utterly, and nothing would change.
That’s fact, I can’t change them. It’s simple do the math....
www.federalbudget.com