“Even with six crew, we’re happy to get 35 hours of dedicated time per week.”

Any idea what the major categories of labor are for maintaining the station?

Do you know if they are working to reduce the man-hours required?

“And hell yes, the Soviets/Russians should have damned well used it by now to have reached the Moon. Why they never ever really tried is beyond me!”

Because it wasn’t worth the money/effort. I have no doubt the USSR could have done it, and I have no doubt that Russia and others can do it today given enough money.

The main reason the U.S. went to the Moon was because it showed the superiority of the U.S. over the USSR. Once that was over going to the Moon was mainly of scientific interest, and not deemed worthy enough by any nation to commit the huge sums of money required. “Because it’s there” doesn’t cut it.

“Do you really believe that American engineering ingenuity wouldn’t have been able to handle the building of a Lunar-capable Orion craft AND an Ares 1 rocket?”

We have always had the ability to go back to the Moon, and likely to travel on beyond the Moon. The issue has always been how much money Congress will provide to NASA. Constellation was cancelled because it was way over budget, not because no one wants to go to the Moon. If Griffin had done a better management job, maybe the program would have survived. However in these tight financial times programs that don’t stay on budget are easy pickings, as was proved by Congress last year.

Maybe you’d like to start a trend by committing 10% of your income to a Moon program?

“Why, oh why, is human Lunar exploration only something that could’ve been done in the 1960′s & 1970′s???!”

If you think any of us here said that you are even sillier than most of us think you are.

“Flexible Path people also want the American public to buy into the notion that ANY form of heavy-lift is impossible for this nation to do.”

This is an out and out lie. Remember SpaceX’s proposed 150mt to orbit launcher for a proposed $2.5 billion? Remember ULA’s upgrade proposals for HLV? “Flexible path people” merely say that HLV’s are not a necessity for at least some years into the future because in the meantime we can do ambitious manned space missions without them. See this:
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1577

But then you know that already. You’re just being as irrational as you always are. Even Gaetano is more factual than you are.

If you think any of us here said that you are even sillier than most of us think you are.

“Flexible Path people also want the American public to buy into the notion that ANY form of heavy-lift is impossible for this nation to do.”

This is an out and out lie. Remember SpaceX’s proposed 150mt to orbit launcher for a proposed $2.5 billion? Remember ULA’s upgrade proposals for HLV? “Flexible path people” merely say that HLV’s are not a necessity for at least some years into the future because in the meantime we can do ambitious manned space missions without them. See this:
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1577

But then you know that already. You’re just being as irrational as you always are. Even Gaetano is more factual than you are.

What work do they have to do, please tell us? Aside from photographing each other having a jolly time aboard the ISS?

Here you go

“Suppose it was shown that basic ISS functions could be controlled and maintained remotely. Wouldn’t that have embarrassing implications for ISS crew size?”

Not just the ISS, but the whole Human Space Flight initiative – the whole “why send humans into space?” thing.

Of course this is just a thought exercise, since even if the ISS could be kept alive without a crew it would not be fulfilling it’s intended purpose which is running a vast array of science experiments and testing out new technologies. Those can only be done hands on, so the need for humans in space continues on.

Neither did I, but now that he’s considered relevant to the ISS/Soyuz discussion, then he ought to be relevant for other issues as well….lol

what the heck power does the “International Space Station Advisory Committee.” have? this is just another useless committee…RGO

I doubt either test will happen…money.

The launch escape system test is a big waste of money. RGO