Obama may link NASA-Pentagon programs

[ozone]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aOvrNO0OJ41g&refer=politics

 

[Kaito]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I mean, we could definitely get people to the moon faster, but there could be unforeseen consequences, such as the military wanting to turn NASA into a military organization, instead of a civilian one. Who knows

 

[T.Neo]

Get people to the Moon faster? I thought we already got people to the Moon.

 

[Kaito]

Get people to the Moon faster? I thought we already got people to the Moon.

My bad. Get MORE People to the moon faster. One step closer to setting up a permanent base on there.

 

[T.Neo]

I dunno. I prefer bases, etc to be private ventures. Governments should focus on Mars.

 

[Kaito]

I once saw a video that some dude heated some lunar regolith substitute to 800 degrees C. It turned to water.

I would like to see a dude walk on mars. I'd love to be that dude. lol

 

[garyw]

Not so good. The military was involved last time and NASA ended up with the shuttle which wasn't fit for either programme..........

 

[T.Neo]

I once saw a video that some dude heated some lunar regolith substitute to 800 degrees C. It turned to water.

I would like to see a dude walk on mars. I'd love to be that dude. lol

You mean it melted right? Lunar regolith is actually very water poor. I doubt you'd be able to squeeze any water out of it.

Not so good. The military was involved last time and NASA ended up with the shuttle which wasn't fit for either programme..........

Exactly.

 

[Kaito]

You mean it melted right? Lunar regolith is actually very water poor. I doubt you'd be able to squeeze any water out of it.

Right, but its 40% oxygen by weight. It probably was just a side-effect of it being a substitute, but still. Heres the vid:

6:45 is about where they start talking about it

 

[steph]

At least we can hope they'll take a more agressive stance on manned space exploration.

 

[Andy44]

Not so good. The military was involved last time and NASA ended up with the shuttle which wasn't fit for either programme..........

Actually, it's the other way around. If the Air Force had developed a spaceplane without NASA intereference it would've worked better and had a more focused mission. The X-20 was that spaceplane. In any case, the only reason the USAF was involved in the Space Shuttle was because that's the only way NASA could get Congress to pay for it. You can blame the USAF, I choose to blame NASA. Or Congress. Or space fans who think it's government's job to send people to the moon. Whatever. After Challenger, the USAF finally got what they wanted: the emminently useful Titan IV.

As for Obama linking the two, big deal. NASA already uses the USAF to launch unmanned probes aboard Atlas and Delta rockets, and many on this board have wondered why NASA hasn't taken advantage of the EELV to get Orion flying faster. Most astronauts are former fighter pilots, and the purpose of NASA is to upstage the same people we aim our ICBMs at. It's all government, it's all tax money, it doesn't make any difference to me which agency actually wastes it.

 

[Hielor]

Most astronaut PLTs and CDRs are former fighter pilots...

My corrections in bold. Small but important. There's only two pilot astronauts on any given flight, and usually 3-5 non-pilots who are typically civilians.

 

[T.Neo]

You can blame the USAF, I choose to blame NASA. Or Congress.

----------------

Or space fans who think it's government's job to send people to the moon.

------------

It's all government, it's all tax money, it doesn't make any difference to me which agency actually wastes it.

:goodposting:

 

[Andy44]

Yes, but until STS, almost all astronauts were military. During the formative years of NASA, which has always had strong links to the military and foreign policy.

 

[Missioncmdr]

Who cares?? We all know that NASA is not going to have a manned space program after the Space Shuttle Program is retired, anyway. Anyone who thinks different is in denial.

 

[Andy44]

No, they will, it will consist of Orion CSM and an overbudget Ares I. The rest will get shelved. My money's on this.

 

[Missioncmdr]

No, it will consist of an overbudget, watered-down Orion CSM that can barely haul four people into orbit on a dysfunctional, overbudget, watered-down, un-reliable Ares I rocket which will all get canceled before the first manned test just like the Ares V that will never see the light of day.

 

[Hielor]

No, it will consist of an overbudget, watered-down Orion CSM that can barely haul four people into orbit on a dysfunctional, overbudget, watered-down, un-reliable Ares I rocket which will all get canceled before the first manned test just like the Ares V that will never see the light of day.

Can you do better?

Didn't think so.

If you honestly think you can help out, then go join NASA or one of their contractors, or one of the commercial manned space ventures.

If you're not willing to try to make things better, you have no right to complain about how they are now.

 

[Andy44]

Can you do better?

Didn't think so.

If you honestly think you can help out, then go join NASA or one of their contractors, or one of the commercial manned space ventures.

If you're not willing to try to make things better, you have no right to complain about how they are now.

Since my money is being taken from me to pay for this government project against my will, I have every right to complain.

 

[Missioncmdr]

Can you do better?

Didn't think so.

If you honestly think you can help out, then go join NASA or one of their contractors, or one of the commercial manned space ventures.

If you're not willing to try to make things better, you have no right to complain about how they are now.

I have not said anything in violation of the rules. Therefore, you have no right to complain about what I choose to write in my posts.

Besides, I can do better:

$19.99 at Wal-Mart.