The "New" NASA under obama

nikimcbee · 08-09-11, 06:03 PM

With the demise of the shuttle program, obama reshapes NASA to fit his priorities.

TLAM Strike · 08-09-11, 06:19 PM

When you want NASAs budget slashed remember this:

Quote:

Out of a $2.4 trillion budget, less than 0.8% is spent on the entire space program! That's less than 1 penny for every dollar spent. It has been conservatively estimated by U.S. space experts that for every dollar the U.S. spends on R and D in the space program, it receives $7 back in the form of corporate and personal income taxes from increased jobs and economic growth. Besides the obvious jobs created in the aerospace industry, thousands more are created by many other companies applying NASA technology in nonspace related areas that affect us daily.

source

Takeda Shingen · 08-09-11, 06:35 PM

Angry, angry neocons.

08-09-11, 09:09 PM

As much as there is a need to explore space, its not really practical for the US right now when the government can't even afford a meal at McDonalds.

Maybe when they can afford to stick a model rocket engine onto a McDonalds kids meal toy, THEN they can restart the pouring copious amounts of cash into NASA.

Torplexed · 08-09-11, 09:15 PM

Can anyone name me a president since Kennedy that has had a clear plan for America in space? Not just vague promises, but an actual vision of where we're going and how long to get there?

TLAM Strike · 08-09-11, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Can anyone name me a president since Kennedy that has had a clear plan for America in space? Not just vague promises, but an actual vision of where we're going and how long to get there?

Reagan...

Torplexed · 08-09-11, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Reagan...

The Strategic Defense Initiative was about defense more than about pushing out to new frontiers. I do recall Reagan proposed Space Station Freedom. Although announced in the 1984 State of the Union Address, Freedom was never constructed or completed as originally designed, and after years of cutbacks and revisions, the remnants of the project were folded into the International Space Station. Which still leaves us in Low Earth Orbit.

Ever since Apollo it feels like American space policy has been more about aimlessly making work than having a real long term goal.

razark · 08-09-11, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Ever since Apollo it feels like American space policy has been more about aimlessly making work than having a real long term goal.

Apollo wasn't about exploration. It was just a pissing contest with the Russians.

We won, we demonstrated we could do it, and we haven't been back in almost 40 years.

TLAM Strike · 08-09-11, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

The Strategic Defense Initiative was about defense more than about pushing out to new frontiers.

But a massive military deployment in to space would have required an Ground to Orbit infrastructure that we don't have today. More infrastructure (more rockets, more launch pads, and more places building rockets) means cheaper launches which in turn means the non military ventures become cheaper.

Sailor Steve · 08-09-11, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

...we haven't been back in almost 40 years.

There's a reason for that, you know.

nikimcbee · 08-10-11, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

There's a reason for that, you know.

hhmm, I thought it was because the decline in quality of the US astronaut?

Onkel Neal · 08-10-11, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

hhmm, I thought it was because the decline in quality of the US astronaut?

I think it's more of a the decline in quality of the US citizen.

The space program is a good mirror of American society. The tide for America is going out. Kennedy, we miss you.

nikimcbee · 08-10-11, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

I think it's more of a the decline in quality of the US citizen.

The space program is a good mirror of American society. The tide for America is going out. Kennedy, we miss you.

Jeebus, I'm losing control of this thread.

So we can't explore for unchartered golf courses then?

Penguin · 08-10-11, 09:58 AM

I think it's a shame that Obama's budget cuts went so deep, that the NASA can't even afford to give weapons to the Astronauts to defend against two aggressive aliens!

papa_smurf · 08-10-11, 10:05 AM

NASA announce new crew:

08-09-11, 06:03 PM	#1
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	The "New" NASA under obama With the demise of the shuttle program, obama reshapes NASA to fit his priorities. __________________

08-09-11, 09:15 PM	#5
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Can anyone name me a president since Kennedy that has had a clear plan for America in space? Not just vague promises, but an actual vision of where we're going and how long to get there? __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

08-10-11, 10:05 AM	#15
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	NASA announce new crew: __________________

08-09-11, 06:35 PM	#3
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Angry, angry neocons.

08-09-11, 09:09 PM	#4
Rilder Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	As much as there is a need to explore space, its not really practical for the US right now when the government can't even afford a meal at McDonalds. Maybe when they can afford to stick a model rocket engine onto a McDonalds kids meal toy, THEN they can restart the pouring copious amounts of cash into NASA.

08-10-11, 09:58 AM	#14
Penguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rheinische Republik Posts: 3,322 Downloads: 92 Uploads: 0	I think it's a shame that Obama's budget cuts went so deep, that the NASA can't even afford to give weapons to the Astronauts to defend against two aggressive aliens!