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Actually that was a contractor that dropped the satellite. Lockheed may well pay damages. Exploration is dangerous. The ocean is littered with vessels lost. Space is no different. SpaceShipOne was not without risk either. NASA has two rovers on Mars operating well beyond their design lifespans, they accomplished ALL misssion goals. Cassini is now at Saturn as well. These are NOT small feats and beyond any civilian ability for at least many decades. The Bush administration has given NASA the new space exploration inititive, and it is backed by budget increase and leaderships. Something CLinton never did.

Clinton butchered NASA! Flying John Glenn was political. Cooperating with the Russians on the space station was political. It cost us great amounts of time and money letting them build major componants of the station. It was a huge mistake. The only reason Clinton did it was they thought it would keep the Russian scientists from working on nukes.Clinton butchered NASA's Budget. Bush has given NASA much needed attention, direction and leadership. The return to Moon and then Mars is very carefully thought out. I am a member of the X-Prize foundation as well. It is ALL part of the equation. NASA does things no other entity can do. The Columbia astronauts believed in NASA. WE owe them a NASA that they wanted it to be. That does not give NASA a free pass. YES, accountabiilty. But do not destroy NASA in the process. They would NOT want us to give up. They would say Fix it, and press on. NASA just needs the help of the President and the support of the country to do the job they were made to do. They have it now. Another reason this election is important to me, Kerry gets elected? goodbye return to moon. Goodbye Mars missions. Hello Gore-like projets that study the o-zone hole until we are blue in the face pleasing only liberal professors and gubmint contractors.