Comments on: Moderating the NASA budget cut http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut Because sometimes the most important orbit is the Beltway... Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:35:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.38 By: Cindy http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1440 Sun, 19 Sep 2004 15:22:38 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1440 While I support both manned and unmanned space travel, I do not believe the strategy outlined in the new space policy will be appropriate to support the future space industry. The creation of a “commercially based” manned space industry will be required if we hope to develop a sustainable “exploration” policy. However the creation of a commercially based, manned, orbital space flight industry will NOT occur if NASA continues to put forth strategies such as the “Moon to Mars” mission. This program will only lead to a space industry that will be totally reliant on government funding for it’s survival.

If we ignore these commercial aspects specifically; a commercial sector that is independent of government programs, we will find that the cost associated with manned space flight will remain to high to justify the expenditure. That is why we should direct our strategic space policies toward developing infrastructure elements and incentives that support a commercially based, manned space industry that is not exclusively funded by the government.
We will struggle to sustain any manned space exploration policy until we can show the American public that the manned space flight industry can have a direct, positive economic impact independent of government programs. Science and spin-off technology arguments, while valid, will not be enough incentive to sustain public support.

There is an interesting, alternate strategy at the following website: http://dserweb.echoechoplus.com

You should listen to BOTH audio presentations as well as read the report to get a full understanding of the importance of this strategy. I don’t think this idea should be dismissed out of hand.

]]> By: Harold LaValley http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1439 Thu, 16 Sep 2004 14:36:25 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1439 More news on the x 37:
The X-37’s body flap was made longer and narrower to better fit onto one of the (alternate) launch vehicles like the Delta IV rocket.

Arnold testing concludes on NASA’s X-37 demonstrator
http://www.spacetoday.net/getarticle.php3?id=51568

]]> By: John Malkin http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1438 Thu, 16 Sep 2004 03:49:46 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1438 It depends on how you measure success. Unfortunately the success of any project will depend on the will of the President and Congress. It will take a year to see if they still have the will to make major changes in the American space policy. Unless Congress passes laws that support appropriate funds, provide clear priorities for space and sustain this over multiple years.

]]> By: Harold LaValley http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1437 Thu, 16 Sep 2004 03:21:38 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1437 No Dogsbd: The other comment was based on experience of Nasa versus a virtual statup when it comes to space. But now that we know it is not SpaceShipOne’s owners and instead it has gone to Darpa. Do you feel that they can be anymore successful than Nasa has been with the project?

]]> By: Dogsbd http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1436 Wed, 15 Sep 2004 20:40:28 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1436 Harold, anything to support such accusations? Facts?

]]> By: Dogsbd http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1435 Wed, 15 Sep 2004 20:39:29 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1435 It’s going to DARPA:

http://www.space.com/news/x37_darpa_040915.html

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1434 Wed, 15 Sep 2004 20:35:37 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1434 “How best to kill off alternative space companies but to give the lead one a project that should defeat it. Just a thought.”

Not much of a thought.

Paranoia is generally not a useful emotion.

]]> By: Harold LaValley http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1433 Wed, 15 Sep 2004 19:26:33 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1433 hidden agenda of NASA?
How best to kill off alternative space companies but to give the lead one a project that should defeat it. Just a thought.

]]> By: John Malkin http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1432 Wed, 15 Sep 2004 19:10:45 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1432 The article quoted above:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3660276.stm#space

]]> By: John Malkin http://www.spacepolitics.com/2004/09/13/moderating-the-nasa-budget-cut/#comment-1431 Wed, 15 Sep 2004 19:09:06 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=301#comment-1431 Nature has a run down of Bush vs. Kerry on Science. Here is what they said about exploration.

MANNED SPACE EXPLORATION
Mr Bush appears to have back-pedalled from his “man on Mars” ambition but he still wants man to go back to the Moon. “America will return to the Moon as early as 2015 and no later than 2020 and use it as a foundation for human missions beyond the Moon.” He does not mention Mars.

Mr Kerry is sceptical. “There is little to be gained from a space initiative that throws out lofty goals, but fails to support these goals with realistic funding.” However, he and John Edwards, he says, will increase funding for a continuation of space exploration.

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