Posted on 12/10/2007 6:20:45 PM PST by Names Ash Housewares
Despite funding uncertainty, NASA is on track to return humans to the moon by 2020 and set up a lunar outpost to serve as a springboard to explore Mars, officials said Monday. "Our job is to build towns on the moon and eventually put tire prints on Mars," NASA's Rick Gilbrech told reporters here, one year after the US space agency unveiled an ambitious plan to site a solar-powered, manned outpost on the south pole of the moon.
"We have the International Space Station; we're going to have a lunar outpost, and someday, certainly, somebody will go to Mars," said Jeff Hanley, head of NASA's Constellation program, which is developing the tools to return humans to the moon.
"Thirty-five years ago this week, Gene Cernan, Ron Evans and Jack Schmitt were on the surface of the moon. We are working hard to return a future generation of astronauts to the moon," said space flight veteran Carl Walz, who now works for NASA's exploration systems mission directorate.
Despite budgetary constraints, NASA hoped to have Constellation fully operational by 2016, Gilbrech said.
"We're hoping we get a budget passed by Congress," he said, pointing out that only six-tenths of a penny of every tax dollar went to funding NASA's space programs.
"We're making plans to be ready for any and all scenarios. The (budget proposal) we put in keeps our program on track for the March 2015 initial operating capability... and full operating capability a year later," Gilbrech, who leads new spacecraft development at NASA, said.
"That will enable the human-moon return by the 2020 date that the president envisioned."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
This nation is moonbound again, and for good this time. Then, beyond.
I just saw the special Mars Rising. It was great. I didn’t know the Russians were actively working on a program. Good for everyone involved!
They are just going to tell us to leave and not come back again!
Being the greatest nation on earth and showing it can only convince some that we can bring global warming to the moon and destroy it's natural state.
We need to pay dearly for our sinful directives. /s
After Mars, there’s not many planets left where we can set up housekeeping.
Which is pretty much the foundation of the entire sorry...ahem..."religion".
I wouldn’t mind living in a town on the moon - as long as they don’t allow any liberals up there to ruin it.
Hmm. Private companies may beat them there (with a robotic probe) by six years! Maybe by 2020 someone from Rutan space delivery systems will be there to meet them with a hot toddy.
Can we beat the Chinese to it? And Japan is talking about a space effort, as is India.
Will we compete, or decide it’s not worth it? What side will the Dinosaur Media be on, I wonder?
I suspect we’ll partner with someone, like we are doing with the International Space Station.
Step 1: replace the Shuttle system.
Then, beyond.
You meant “to infinty-and beyond!”
“...space exploration offends Allah...”
Didn’t that come up already? Concerns that Mercury was going to intrude on the resting place of the crystal coffin of Mohamed?
2020? Private enterprise will get there first.
I watched breathlessly at age 14 while Neil Armstrong took that first step, fascinated as I was with astronomy and the space program.
But now, I have to say “Why?” There’s nothing new up there. Nothing’s changed. And anything that can be done on Mars can be done with robotic probes.
They may as well shove $100 bills up the thrusters and use those for fuel. They act like they want to burn up the money anyway than can. I think thats reall what the want to do. And it would make a great global warming experiment to boot.
If they wait that long, they may need to get landing permission from the Chinese.
W has returned vision to our floundering space program.
HA!! What? Our tax dollars going to run out or something?
"We have the International Space Station; we're going to have a lunar outpost, and someday, certainly, somebody will go to Mars," said Jeff Hanley, head of NASA's Constellation program, which is developing the tools to return humans to the moon
Oh yeah great idea that was Jeff. The ISS, over budget and unreliable. Yep, sounds like something funded by an entity that doesn't have to produce a product for its shareholders. I can't tell you how safe I would feel in a 'lunar outpost' built by the government. How many tens of billions will this boondoggle run over?
"We're hoping we get a budget passed by Congress," he said, pointing out that only six-tenths of a penny of every tax dollar went to funding NASA's space programs.
Well you got to start somewhere Jeff. That's six tenths of a penny that belongs to me and not to you. Myself I'd rather invest that six tenths of a penny in a private company doing the same thing. That way I get actual return that can be measured. It's called capitalism Jeff. Free market. Maybe the government could look into it
Now shall we hear all the cheering from 'conservatives' how government should be wasting money this way?
We only scratch the surface on when we went to the Moon last time.. Also those Robots on Mars also is just scratching the surface on Mars.. Humans can do a better a job.. I rather have the money spent on NASA than on the social welfare programs..
Wow, I'm impressed!!! It took them LESS than 10 years the FIRST time they did it!!!
This is BS and it sucks swampwater. With every passing year, I become more disenchanted with NASA and what it has become.
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