Comments on: Congressional shuttle spectators

By: Space Politics » Nick Lampson, savior of KSC?

Space Politics » Nick Lampson, savior of KSC? — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:18:05 +0000

[…] That’s the argument made in an article yesterday in the Orlando Sentinel, which makes the case that Lampson’s fight to raise NASA’s budget will help keep jobs at KSC. Lampson, the article notes, wants an extra $3 billion for NASA’s budget to reduce the Shuttle-Constellation gap. To aid those efforts, he organized a meeting between NASA administrator Mike Griffin and a group of fiscally conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats, and also organized a Congressional trip to last month’s shuttle launch. […]

By: Sergio

Sergio — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:59:11 +0000

Hi all, my opinion is that a polititian, and in general whoever has power enough to decide in such matters, should not wait for his emotions to make him aware of the importance of the space program. He should realize that only with his rational-mind.
Anyway “passion” is a strong feeling, and if it is needed in order to show the path-to-be-followed, then I’m confident that the so-stimulated-mind will realize that this path nedds to-be-followed.

Sergio

By: Dropping the Basket: Left Flank

Dropping the Basket: Left Flank — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:23:19 +0000

[…] County–or even how the Mars program–pays the bills. The debate at Space Politics is a lively place to end. Look, there’s no doubt that there is, and should be, an emotional component to our space policy […]

By: Donald F. Robertson

Donald F. Robertson — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:46:33 +0000

Habitat Hermit, my degree is in archaeology and I do know the original Roman meaning of the term. Yes, canttellya was using the term correctly, and I was redefining it to suit my purposes, which I thought was implicit in the context I used it in. I apologize for any confusion.

— Donald

By: Habitat Hermit

Habitat Hermit — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:42:13 +0000

Hmm I apologize if you actually mean it but I don't believe you're using the expression "bread and circuses" as anything but shorthand for utility and entertainment however that isn't what the expression refers to and by using it you're actually saying something very different (Wikipedia).

By: Donald F. Robertson

Donald F. Robertson — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:06:31 +0000

watchnasatv: Bread without circuses? Thats not life, it is prison

Well put.

please let there be a major science breakthrough on ISS

The Space Station is the first fully-equipped laboratory in the environment that dominates the Universe, as opposed to the (very) special case environment on Earth’s surface. As such, it will be far more astonishing if there are no breakthroughs, than if there are.

Although few of the scientists here will recognize it as such, there has already been one, in that single most important field of human discovery and endeavor, agriculture — learning to reliably grow plants to reproductive maturity in microgravity. This decades long project, starting on Skylab and Mir, proved far more difficult than was expected. It was finally achieved on the early ISS, and obviously has tremendous moment for the future.

— Donald

By: watchnasatv.com

watchnasatv.com — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:30:54 +0000

I’m very pleased these congress critters got to see a launch, I hope this happens for every launch. It is like hearing a band on the radio vs. going to see a live concert, or watching a car race on TV vs. seeing it in person. The sounds, smells, and the atmosphere of anticipation/excitement are all difficult to put into words or capture on TV.

It is so nice to read the usual money, money , money; this vs. that discussion. (smell the sarchasm)

Oh God please let there be a major science breakthrough on ISS. Something of great value would be nice, so that those who feel the need can place a dollar value on human spaceflight, and we can all move on to the moon, mars, and beyond.

Bread without circuses? Thats not life, it is prison.

By: Blog | Storie spaziali » Blog Archive » Emozione o ragione?

Blog | Storie spaziali » Blog Archive » Emozione o ragione? — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:13:40 +0000

[…] Space Politics Ã¨ in corso una discussione che, pur partendo da un episodio americano, secondo me Ã¨ di interesse generale. Si tratta di […]

By: canttellya

canttellya — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:51:24 +0000

My mistake.

By: Donald F. Robertson

Donald F. Robertson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:32:45 +0000

canttellya, maybe you should read what I wrote. I said comsats, et al, are bread, that is, something essential to staying alive. All the rest are circuses, automated reconnaissance and human spaceflight alike.

— Donald