The Space Shuttle Fight

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

NASA recently made a decision to distribute the retired shuttle fleet to various cities around the country. Discovery went to the Smithsonian (makes perfect sense), Atlantis went to Kennedy Space Center in Florida (again, makes perfect sense). The Endevour goes to Los Angeles and the Callifornia Science Center (uh...ok....) and Enterprise (which never went into space) goes to Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York.

Wait a miniute...no Houston? The site of NASA Mission Control doesn't warrant getting a shuttle for a museum piece?

Let me tell you, it's been a crapstorm in Houston since the decision was announced. The rednecks predictably are blaming Obama, of course.

I blame Obama, guess that makes me a redneck. This President has not been a friend to NASA, and I think you know how I feel about hitching a ride with the Russians. Our space program's demise is a national disgrace, and Obama sure had a hand in it. But, to be fair, it's pretty symbolic of the way this country is falling from greatness.

I'm less concerned with where they park the retired shuttles than I am with the pathetic shortsightedness evident in the current administration.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

I blame Obama, guess that makes me a redneck. This President has not been a friend to NASA, and I think you know how I feel about hitching a ride with the Russians. Our space program's demise is a national disgrace, and Obama sure had a hand in it. But, to be fair, it's pretty symbolic of the way this country is falling from greatness.

I'm less concerned with where they park the retired shuttles than I am with the pathetic shortsightedness evident in the current administration.

Do you think the decision was in Obama's hands? Do you think he called up NASA and said "You know, we've got to screw Houston. Get those sumbeaches!" I'm not buying it.

I agree with you on NASA though - if we diverted a fraction of a percent of the defense budget for one year, we could fund NASA for years.

Originally Posted by Platapus

Since Houston still has the space centers, I think they have enough "history" on display. More people will visit NYC than Houston. I have never heard anyone at work discuss taking a vacation to Houston.

Let's put the space shuttle in Paris, France then. More international tourists than NYC.

And speaking of enough "history" on display, I don't think NYC is hurting for tourist attractions.

[Torplexed]

Hmm. The Museum of Flight in Seattle is getting the Shuttle Simulator. It looks a lot like a space shuttle — if you can overlook the fact that it doesn't have wings and it's made out of plywood. However, I think the argument can be made that Houston is more entitled to it, since that's where the astronauts trained. Frankly, I'm surprised Seattle got more than a few half-used jars of Tang from NASA as we didn't have a great deal to do with the Shuttle program during it's run.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

I blame Obama, guess that makes me a redneck. This President has not been a friend to NASA, and I think you know how I feel about hitching a ride with the Russians. Our space program's demise is a national disgrace, and Obama sure had a hand in it. But, to be fair, it's pretty symbolic of the way this country is falling from greatness.

I'm less concerned with where they park the retired shuttles than I am with the pathetic shortsightedness evident in the current administration.

Russians are prepared to take your tax dollars to fly Americans to space.

They just commissioned their new Soyuz TMA-M and there are proposals for Soyuz-K. In addition to that in Thursday they promised to develop successor for Soyuz.

I think that its good investment as I believe that it doesn't matter who will be president in America. I doubt NASA will get more money. They may even cancel Orion as its not absolutely necessary. There are Russians and I'm sure they understand language of dollar!

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

I'm less concerned with where they park the retired shuttles than I am with the pathetic shortsightedness evident in the current administration.

And if Obama were to say that he wanted to pour billions of dollars in to NASA people would be bitchin about his spending.

Personally, I think taking a break from very expensive space exploitation is a good plan. No one is saying that we will never go back. But let's take a break until our economy finishes recovery. Maybe after we get out of a few wars and we can start cutting the military budget, we might be able to afford funding NASA again.

Or are you suggesting that we borrow more money to fund NASA?