NASA EXEC TELLS OF MARS PLANS

San Antonio Express-News ^ | 08/08/2002 | Christopher Anderson

[crypt2k]

Some of us will be watching manned landings on Mars from our beds in the old folks' home. Others of us may not be so lucky.

[crypt2k]

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[Free the USA]

Index Bump

[andy_card]

The workshop is part of the institute's self-funded $2.4 million initiative to build Mars expertise in such fields as space science, materials, geochemistry, instrumentation and vehicle and power-supply research.

$2.4 million? It can't be too much of a priority then. At this rate, the sun will be extinguished by the time we get our act together. Oh well...

[Frank_Discussion]

This is SWRI, not NASA. For them, it is a lot of dough.

[chilepepper]

If we don't get moving, we will be watching CHINESE cosmonauts landing on Mars from the old fogie home...

[andy_card]

This is SWRI, not NASA. For them, it is a lot of dough.

Mea culpa.

[RightWhale]

Even an offer from the Russians couldn't get a twitch of interest in Mars from this administration.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I thought Rock Hudson had already been there.

[Frank_Discussion]

A Real Red planet is a Real Fear, IMHO.

[nygoose]

Eventually, the Martians will come to Earth.

[FireTrack]

"We're looking for new ideas in Mars exploration," Figueroa said. "It is a fully open competition to the broad scientific community."

Sure they are...

My Idea!

[general_re]

It can't be too much of a priority then.

They don't want to go to Mars - then they wouldn't be able to cover up the fact that the famous "Martian face" is an artifact of Martian civilization, which has been visiting us since the 1950's, and has given NASA the technology for stealth bombers, fiber optics, non-stick frying pans, and the Waterpik.

Where's my hat?

[marron]

Humans will not walk across the Red Planet for decades to come, Figueroa predicted. "A human mission to Mars is really not in our agenda at the moment," he said.

Then he should resign. I am looking for the man who will design and execute a mission to put human explorers on Mars within a decade. That's "one" decade, not decades.

[marron]

If NASA cannot do it, then NASA's day has come and gone.

[mombonn]

"A human mission to Mars is really not in our agenda at the moment,"

But when they do a human mission, it will be named in honor of Sheila Jackson-Lee.

[Michael Barnes]

Betcha the private sector could have us there in under a decade. And be more cost efficient about it without throwing safety into the wind..

[Tallguy]

NASA -- a leading example of how a top-heavy bureaucracy can choke the last shred of excitement out of what should be a great human adventure.

NASA was far better when it was just an advisory board that vetted proposals from industry. They are just clueless.

[End The Hypocrisy]

President Bush actually commented on the Chinese-Taikonauts-to-Mars topic. For a humorous brief video clip of what really transpired, feel free to visit:

http://www.spaceprojects.com/w