Space plans are out of this world

Enterprise ^ | 1/13/04

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

No agency in the history of the world has been more efficient at throwing away money than NASA. It has wasted billions of dollars on failed space programs and often seems to exist as nothing more than an exorbitant full-employment agency for scientists who might otherwise have to get real jobs.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Was Columbus a fool? Are entrepreneurs? How do we know that Mars can't offer us solutions to problems we haven't been able to answer?

[RightWhale]

The President is coming on live right about now to announce the new space plan. Does naybody care?

[JohnGalt]

Because NASA employees don't think they can secure funding and get jobs in the dreaded private sector?

[Trampled by Lambs]

The recent success of the space rover landing on Mars should not obscure the fact that two out of every three Mars missions ends in failure

Let that be a lesson to you. If something is difficult and you don't succeed right away, give up.

[MineralMan]

"Was Columbus a fool? Are entrepreneurs? How do we know that Mars can't offer us solutions to problems we haven't been able to answer?"

Here's an idea: If exploring space is such a great idea, let's leave it to private enterprise to do it. Then, they can profit from all the terrific discovery's to be made out there.

As for me, I'd like to explore the possibility of keeping a little more of my money. Maybe I'll invest it in a private space-going company.

[Izzy Dunne]

If you have REAL player, squeeze rodent here

[TheDon]

The author confuses two separate issues. What is the point of space exploration in general, or in particular, and should gov't be engaged in that activity.

[jpl]

Here's an idea: If exploring space is such a great idea, let's leave it to private enterprise to do it.

I'm all for the privatization of much of the space exploration business. The problem is that space (at least the low Earth orbit part) is the next major frontier in defense and warfare. Programs like the missile defense shield and such will never allow for the total privatization of space research.

[smith288]

The little flaw in Bush's dream is that there isn't a half-trillion dollars lying around for a few jaunts to other worlds.

This person needs to do research on the funding of this... Currently, he sounds like a ninny. Exceptionally so right now since the announcement hasnt been made so details that cover cost and the sort are unknown to the author. What an idiot.

[Muleteam1]

>>What is the purpose of sending people to the moon<<

I can think of many good reasons to send the Democratic Party to the moon, but I can't think of any good reason to spend more than $1.98 on the spaceship we would use to get them there.

Muleteam1

[hopespringseternal]

Many people feel the same way, but they would never ask taxpayers to come up with $500 billion to pay for these dreams.

Some people would consider using a fifteen year old estimate for an entirely different plan downright dishonest.

[Flightdeck]

"full-employment agency for scientists who might otherwise have to get real jobs. "

Is this guy effing kidding me? He or she (it?) obviously has no clue what the job of a NASA scientist is like. Look at your own job, buddy, (which you suck at by the way). They didn't bust there asses going to college for ten years to mow lawns.

Then the selective "evidence" listed as failures. Whoah, what happened to the successful rover mission going on right now? That line must have been edited out. This article is trash, and the person who wrote it is another example of a know-less-than-nothing "critic" who expects people who do know what's up not to call him on it. Next time, write about something you're familiar with. Here's a topic: "How to deal with getting rejected by publishers."

[MineralMan]

From your profile: "Software engineer with a large contractor to the Department of Defense."

It's quite clear where your sensibilities lie. Is space the next frontier for war? Not unless we make it so, and allow other hostile nations to make it so.

[snarkpup]

No agency in the history of the world has been more efficient at throwing away money than NASA.

I don't think one would have to look too long and hard to find less efficient agencies. In fact, of the zillions of agencies within the federal government, NASA and the defense department are the only two that stand out as organizations that, while perhaps inefficient, at least produce things I want (purty pictures from space and killing bad guys, respectively).

Or put another way, how do you numerically measure the "efficiency" of the 3/4 of the federal government that is counterproductive?

[jpl]

Is space the next frontier for war? Not unless we make it so, and allow other hostile nations to make it so.

I hate to break it to you my friend, but space IS the next frontier for warfare, whether you want it to be or not. Do you have any idea at all how much of our modern defense relies on orbiting space satellites? Do you really believe that China would actually ignore space even if we were foolish enough to do so? How do you plan on stepping them, through the U.N.? Don't forget that Clinton have them the entire store in exchange for illegal campaign contributions, which is a big part of the reason why they're sending men into space now.

[MineralMan]

"Whoah, what happened to the successful rover mission going on right now? "

Indeed! What did happen to it? I'll give you a rundown of the findings of this rover mission, and I can do it before the rover rolls of its transporter:

Mars once had water.
Mars no longer has liquid water.
The red stuff is iron oxide.
There's no life there now.
We can't tell if there was at some earlier time.
Mars has no breathable atmosphere.
Mars may have had a breathable atmosphere, but the oxygen is now bound up in the rocks.

Thank you for your attention. Please remit $1B to the address below.

[Salgak]

Fine, let's LET Private Enterprise do Space.

However, to do so, requires NASA and the FAA and DHS to GET THE HECK OUT OF THEIR WAY. . . .

[CyberCowboy777]

WAY too much money is wasted outside of the space program for this to even be an issue.

When you have secured the Billions wasted by the Federal Government and decreased my taxes accordingly I might start listening to you about defunding NASA.

[vanmorrison]

The only indisputable reason to support Bush's space program is to support the development of space technology intended for military use. We went to the Moon in 1969 to beat the Russians to the punch. Now we'll return there to beat the Chinese, too. I can't think of any other, more compelling, purpose to invest in the space program. But this single reason is pretty dramatic and sufficient to justify our efforts, in my opinion.

[RightWhale]

Much ado about nothing. This program is puny. $1 billion over 5 years will barely get some new cubicle partitions for the new project offices. $1 billion will take it through the end of Bush's 2nd term in case he chooses to go for a second term.