Where are the flying cars? I was promised flying cars!

[dolari]

So, Bush is considering announcing a moon mission or two.....and retiring the shuttle fleet?

No.

USE THE SHUTTLE TO BUILD A SPACE STATION THAT MATTERS. LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

From there, you can start work on using it as a way station on the way to the moon. which can then be used as a launching point for Mars.

LIKE NASA PLANNED IN THE EARLY 70s.

Before Nixon slashed the budget, and made a Shuttle that didn't do it's job until we decided to finally build ISS in th early 90s. If NASA had had it's way we'd have gone to Mars by now. Granted there was a war going on back then, but we never revisited space after the war was over!

Not like it really matters. It's just a happy happy joy joy statement he can say to get reelected and ignore once he's back in.

Sorry about the rant, but space exploration is something really close to my heart.

Comments

Retire the Shuttle

[inefficient.livejournal.com]

Actually, since the fleet is nearing 25 years old, it is more than time enough for a new re-usable orbiter. I remember the drawings and talk about the Space plane from 8 years ago or so, but sadly NASA has never had the budget it needs to accomplish any of the great accomplishments in space that America is in the best position to make. To Bush's credit, IIRC, after the Columbia disaster, he not only didn't slash the NASA budget, but increased it as well. For far too long NASA has been in the unenviable position of having to make too little go too far. One would hope that a successful Chinese space program might re-invigorate the American Interest in the Final Frontier. It has always been my dream to look down on the earth from orbit, but being a bit of a spindly geek has always been an impediment to that. The shuttle was the most advanced design we could come up with in 197? and it has served us tremendously well. However, we need to apply the best technology and designs we can come up with TODAY to a NEW orbiter. Something that leaves the Shuttle as far behind as it left the Saturn IV's. There were many a night I stayed up till 3 in the morning in college to watch the launches on the NASA channel we got. Sadly, we don't get that in the real world. I got to see the launch of STS-100 via TV. Someday, I hope to see an actual launch, if we ever get off the ground again. I'm also a bit of a space geek if you hadn't noticed...

Re: Retire the Shuttle

[zaecus.livejournal.com]

We have a channel on our cable that broadcasts the NASA activities, including launches.

Not sure if this is the same thing or not. Requires Real Player.

http://www.unitedspacealliance.com/live/nasatv.htm

Re: Retire the Shuttle

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm not saying we DON'T need a new Orbiter. We DO. We just dont' need to sit on our hands while we still have a usable Orbiter to use with a reenergized Space Program. By the time we get a usable space station, our second generation shuttles should be ready.

I'm one of those who watched every shuttle launch when I could. I'm just sad that the whole "whole morning broadcast" of a launch has boiled down to "Oh, this just in, ten seconds to Launch - Launch - Wasn't that great? Back to Days of our lives."

Sadly, I didn't earn about NASA TV till AFTER the Columbia broke up.

Re: Retire the Shuttle

[ascian.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of Callahan's Key, when the real space fans at Canaveral are still staring at the sky and listening to the com chatter on the loudspeaker when everyone else is piling into their cars and heading home.

"Where are you going? They aren't even in orbit yet!"

I agree completely regarding shuttles, moon, and Bush. Maybe, for the next launch, he could be convinced to pose for a photo op under the rocket...