Posted on 09/19/2005 10:19:44 AM PDT by Jake The Goose
NASA estimated Monday it will cost $104 billion to return astronauts to the moon by 2018 in a new rocket that combines the space shuttle with the capsule of an earlier NASA era.
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, in unveiling the new lunar exploration plan announced by President Bush last year, said he is not seeking extra money and stressed that the space agency will live within its future budgets to achieve this goal.
He dismissed suggestions that reconstruction of the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina might derail the program first outlined by President Bush in 2004.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Give Dick Rutan the money!!
Incredible to think that NASA think they deserve and money to do anything - other than to take groceries to the Space Station - and pick up the trash.
Its NASA if they ask for 104 billion give them 20 billion and they will still get it done.
$104 billion. Put it on our tab ...
Depends on the technology spinoffs. Apollo program was not a loss, if these are included.
Wow. What an informed assessment. [NOT]
The AP article makes it sound like it is one rocket, one mission. In fact, this is a system of boosters, spacecraft, landers, habitats, and support equipment designed to return the USA to the Moon and maintain a presence.
This is not just one mission, and it isn't Apollo 2.0 - it's a comprehensive approach to getting back to doing what we SAID we would do forty years ago.
I bet it would be cheaper if we farmed out everything to undocumented workers who are willing to do jobs that U.S. citizens just won't do for $ 4.00 an hour cash under the table.
Fly Me to the Moon
(Bart Howard)
"...with the capsule of an earlier NASA era."
The CEV is NOT an Apollo capsule. It is bigger (w/internal cargo space), more versatile, and reusable for ten (10) ISS transfer flights.
Ahoy there! Wow AP distorting facts!!! How shocking..
No, no distortion at all! How can AP distort something they completely manufacutred themselves?
;(
Maybe you should apply to be with the first crew so you can see how the money is to be spent..?
That is a classic misstatement. As such it will be destroyed in rebuttal.
It is 100 billion over 12 years. That is about 8 billion a year and they are defunding other things in the current NASA budget to pay for it. They are not asking for new money.
NASA has had no mission beyond flying around in circles (that's what Earth orbit is) for literally years. The vision of GW Bush finally gives them a mission. They are long overdue to have a mission. This is a good one. The moon, after all, should be American.
I would rather spend the billions advancing spaceflight and science than giveaways that promote nothing more than governmental dependence! Technological development breeds capital growth!
Mike
give them 20 billion and they will still get it done.
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Or give them $0.00 and watch private enterprise get it down... :)
WOW, 1/2 the cost to rebuild after Katrina.
This isn't 104B this year but over the span 12 years. If you hate going to Walmart and seeing Made in China, would you prefer to see Made in China stamped on the Moon.
Meet our newest astronaut: Jose Jimenez. . . .
(diving for cover)
104 billion. No problem send the credit charges to the next generation. They don't vote.
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