End of Manned Space flight or only the beginning?

[Space Toker]

With the recent decision not to continue the Constellation program, some say it is the end of manned flight and maybe even NASA. Others say it is only the beginning and private firms may get us to the moon sooner than NASA would have. Before I express my opinion, which I will edit in later, I wanted to get your take. What do you think?

 

[kaze420]

is it because they lost funding? or just because they reach technology max, why no private flight.. alot of catching up to do im sure.. sounds good, open up space for people who dont want to be a marine pilot or scientist

 

[Space Toker]

I think they increased the budget by 3 billion to 19 billion, again a mere fraction of the 700 something the military gets (which is a huge waste in my opinion). I think they still saw Constellation as a waste, personally I would rather have no ISS and have put the money into a better mission to the moon and mars. This could turn out well or not, was interested in what others thought. thanks!

 

[steppinRazor]

i think its fucking ridiculous that obama cut funding to get us to the moon and funding for the international space station. makes me wonder if we've actually ever been to the moon.. Space exploration should be one of our number one priorities IMO. yet funding to the banks, automotive and insurance companies are getting bail outs, and dont even mention the increased funding to wars and military.
whatta fucking joke.

 

[kaze420]

maybe they weren't getting their moneys worth lol

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Our country is broke, who gives a shit about space right now?

 

[Charles De Mar]

with all the things that were developed by NASA that are now part of our everyday lives, I don't think the money is going to waste. I would rather the money go to NASA research than developing more weapons.

 

[alaskan]

On a recent coast to coast am they talked about how once our shuttle is retired (pretty soon,) the US won't have any way of getting to space without going through other countries' programs.

And I don't think this is the end of manned spaceflight, they're just done sharing it with us peons...

 

[tokinafaty420]

Robots definitely.

 

[jd4083]

i think its fucking ridiculous that obama cut funding to get us to the moon and funding for the international space station. makes me wonder if we've actually ever been to the moon.. Space exploration should be one of our number one priorities IMO. yet funding to the banks, automotive and insurance companies are getting bail outs, and dont even mention the increased funding to wars and military.
whatta fucking joke.

we know more about outer space than the planet we live on....as cool as space exploration is, we have a LOT more pressing issues and I'm personally for the elimination of any pork from the national budget...

 

[kaze420]

retire space program= sell to other countries secrets to advanced space, countries with money to blow who has this level of spaceness besides nasa

 

[SoloGro57]

Spaceships Are For Closers!

Spaceships Are For Closers!

NASA needs to be put on hiatus. Currently, we have enough on our National Plate to keep us more than busy. NASA is small a small fish, and there are larger programs that should also be cut.

Sadly, I think that spaceships are for countries that have their shit together more than the US does.

 

[kaze420]

ya im saying the people in power are fucking up for people that proceed their jobs in the future. dont forgot how to NASA when you turn it off.. later

 

[zeppelindood]

I voted other as UFO's will probably intervene soon

 

[JohnGault]

I voted other as well. My reason being non manned space exploration is a start, but lets face it sooner or later (sooner is my bet) this little pebble we live on ain't gonna be big enough for all of us. Time to find a place in the suburbs, and that means sending people.

JG

 

[buckeye-leaf]

thanks obama i pay taxes so my friends and loved ones children can study and imagine whats out there, but you take my money and use it on useless crap.....way to go hero

 

[Space Toker]

I may wish I could re-word the poll as at least 2 options overlap. Still it is great to see the results here. I am torn on recent events but know I want a strong space program to emerge from this. On one hand, I think it was a waste to cancel something already in progress. ON the other hand, maybe they knew something we didn't, that the current plan was unworkable or something similar.

I did not favor a return to the Moon when it was first announced, instead wanting to get to Mars quicker without wasting time dicking around on the moon. But they made the argument that it would make a good proving ground for technology needed for Mars.

So I favored whatever would get us to Mars faster and establish a permanent presence there. Since it seemed the only option given was to go to the moon first, I reluctantly got on board. I was disheartened when I heard Constellation was cancelled. But now I think Constellation was in more trouble than they let on and maybe starting fresh is a good idea.

I favor the option no one else voted for, "radical restructuring". I am not sure what form that would take. But I would like to see space get funded much better than it is. I would like to see the wasteful military spending cut, and the proceeds put toward the space program AND toward making real change in the third world, helping the people there find ways to sustain themselves long term.

I would cut the military down to the level where our defenses are strong but we wouldn't be waging wars everywhere all at once for no good reason. If they spent half the money they use for the military on helping the citizens of the countries they make war with, there would be no need for war in the first place as we would win their hearts without shedding blood.

I would favor a stronger and better funded space program. What form it would take is not totally certain, but it would be a partnership between government and private enterprise. Companies won't take on what is not profitable, so pure science and more daring and technologically advanced missions would be left to governments/universities. Let companies handle low earth orbit, orbital stations/habitats, and maybe the moon and asteroid mining. Let the government develop new technology for advanced propulsion systems to take us to Mars and beyond. Once we are at Mars, we will need private industry involved, because we will need more than just astronauts, we will need builders and settlers and all sorts of disciplines.

So I suggest getting NASA to be far more efficient like ESA is, and then give them more funding. Partnering with industry will allow them to do what they do better and same for NASA. Then we can go to the moon, Mars, orbiting cities, the outer solar system and to other stars all at once. Of course, the outer solar system and beyond part would need funding for research and development of technologies, then we can go when we can go. Meanwhile, we would have many robotic missions and telescope missions to image other planets. We could probably do all this for like $50 billion a year, although 100 would allow quicker action. Trimming a little off the military budget could provide this AND funding for green tech, poverty elimination and infrastructure investments. And maybe even a tax break for people starting small businesses, instead of subsidies for rich corporations that do not need it.

 

[Space Toker]

development of space resources would provide the best poverty reduction imaginable as it would generate so much more new revenue. It would force us together, as we moved to international cooperation to achieve more and achieve it more quickly. It will help all of humanity if done right and revolutionize humanity's maturation process. We have been stuck in neutral long enough, sitting in our crib too scared to get out and take a look at what's out there. If we do not establish ourselves on/around other planets and eventually other star systems, we will go extinct. If we expand, we will advance. Our whole psyche is built on challenging ourselves and going to new frontiers, if we stay on Earth, with nothing left to achieve, we will wither and fade away.

 

[kaze420]

ya i agree with most of that obama why more troops to battle?
russia tried afgan.and we cant even beat 'them' terorist who beat the russian with our help and arm supplies. gerog bush 'mission accomplished' iraq

COMPARABLE to vietnam but on a larger scale right longer amount of time, remember we progress.. come on stop wasting time its money and energy(humans life) although it is all volunteer military you can argue. so marine go hard join the coast guard then.

big spending is out of control right, tell me how to pay off debt? work.. future generations working hard to pay for fuck ups numbers dont lie

but there are no job right, seems to be losing many every month. ya you save jobs but why cant many more be created to supplement temporary growth. people spend money to survive. black market economy, where did all the moneygo banks loaned at the start? to people they knew would fail. everthing seemed fined before this financial thing began people will work, but in the day in age resume' whatever you have to 'ask' for a job. well big government give the people jobs then. u want socialism obama?
lets not go work crazy and start cracking whip[literally] though..

 

[buckeye-leaf]

great post bud! i agree with your thoughts i was watching news (same shit new day) and this older feller was pissed cant remember his name but was last man on the moon fuck global worming whens our children gonna go out and beyond. we may not be here but they can find out