This is so embarressing that we as a superpower can't even get our damn space craft up and back. Hello folks, TIME TO WAKE UP!
US tech is dead, its over. NASA is an example of this, accelerated by the natural excesses of any government beauracracy. but in general, the US world leadership role in technology is eroding at an unbelievable rate. I see it at work every day - we don't innovate anymore, don't invent, every activity is focused on improving profits for the next quarter, and the resulting executive compensation.
We are second rate when you compare the manned programs of Russia and the United States. It's very sad after taking into account how much more we spend then the Russians.
The current grounding of the Space Shuttle fleet because of form falling off the ET is an embrassment. They had two years and a billion+ dollars, and they didn't fix a damn thing. MUST BE A UNION SHOP! "If it's not in my union contract, I ain't doin` it."
Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com