Bush OKs new moon missions

[charrison]

linkage

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- American astronauts will return to the moon early in the next decade in preparation for sending crews to explore Mars and nearby asteroids, President Bush is expected to propose next week as part of a sweeping reform of the U.S. space program.

...

To begin the initiative, the president will ask Congress for a down payment of $800 million for fiscal year 2005, most of which will go to develop new robotic space vehicles and begin work on advanced human exploration systems. Bush also plans to ask Congress to boost NASA's budget by 5 percent annually over at least the next five years, with all of the increase supporting space exploration. With the exception of the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, no other agency is expected to receive a budget increase above inflation in FY 2005.


...

Along with retiring the shuttle fleet, the new plan calls for NASA to convert a planned follow-on spacecraft -- called the orbital space plane -- into versions of a new spaceship called the crew exploration vehicle. NASA would end substantial involvement in the space station project about the same time the moon landings would begin -- beginning in 2013, according to an administration timetable shown to UPI.

The first test flights of unmanned prototypes of the CEV could occur as soon as 2007. An orbital version would replace the shuttle to transport astronauts to and from the space station. However, sources said, the current timetable leaves a period several years when NASA would lack manned space capability -- hence the need to use Soyuz vehicles for flights to the station. Ariane rockets also might be used to launch lunar missions.

Best NASA news in a long time

 

[Czar]

Bush surely want to put his footprint in the history books

Great news GO NASA

 

[fjorner]

Great news!

It's about time we had a president with enough gut, fortitude, and spirit to make a bold move like this.

I wasn't a big fan of Bush before this, but I am now. This is something all of humanity should be happy about.

 

[Gaard]

They found oil on the moon?





j/k guys, don't hurt me.

 

[ChrisIsBored]

Somewhat related, but any news on the results thus far of that crazy contest in which private parties were to develop their own space shuttle?

 

[Genesys]

Originally posted by: ChrisIsBored
Somewhat related, but any news on the results thus far of that crazy contest in which private parties were to develop their own space shuttle?

you mean the X Prize? yeah, theres tons of news about those wild and crazy guys!

heres a link to Armadillo Aerospace [these guys are in my area, and John Carmack (of id software fame) is on their team]

Armadillo Aerospace

 

[Tab]

Good move Bush

 

[tnitsuj]

That is great news and will be a kick in the pants for all sorts of US high tech industries. With China set to match US GDP by 2050 we need everything we can get to maintain our technological dominance.


$800 million doesn't sound like a whole lot though, but I guess it is a start.

 

[Martin]

Wow, amazing news! This is undoubtedly the best thing Bush has ever done!


Chris, if you're refering to the X-Prize, the aim is to create a low earth orbit vehicle, not much different (though more modern and a bit bigger) from the crafts that carried Shappard and Gagarin.

 

[sandorski]

He just wants some company.

It is a good idea, but I wonder if it will be affordable in the long run and who will/may need to cancel it?

 

[GrGr]

President Bush should really be called Santa Bush; he has something for everyone it seems.

*a little something for the timberindustry
*a little something for the illegal immigrants
*a little something for the techno nerds

ho ho ho

 

[tallest1]

nvm. Should've read article =-*

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: GrGr
President Bush should really be called Santa Bush; he has something for everyone it seems.

*a little something for the timberindustry
*a little something for the illegal immigrants
*a little something for the techno nerds

ho ho ho

do not forget a little for the old people
and a hell of alot for his old pals.

 

[MonstaThrilla]

I can't believe everyone is so enthusiastic about this. I feel like I've just stepped into the Twilight Zone. What's the point of it all? There is no Soviet Union to beat, there is no space race. Why can't our President actually think of a better, more novel goal that will help people here on Earth?

Set a goal for total energy independence from foreign oil by 2020. Export this technology to friendly nations abroad and soon the despotic regimes of the Middle East will crumble from impotence. When they fall, develop a strategy to make sure free democracies replace them.

 

[SuperTool]

I am guessing he hasn't figured out how to pay for this yet.

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: MonstaThrilla
I can't believe everyone is so enthusiastic about this. I feel like I've just stepped into the Twilight Zone. What's the point of it all? There is no Soviet Union to beat, there is no space race. Why can't our President actually think of a better, more novel goal that will help people here on Earth?

Set a goal for total energy independence from foreign oil by 2020. Export this technology to friendly nations abroad and soon the despotic regimes of the Middle East will crumble from impotence. When they fall, develop a strategy to make sure free democracies replace them.

Well, he is already trying to steal the 2nd largest oil reserves in the world already.. what more do you want?

 

[LunarRay]

Originally posted by: Gaard
They found oil on the moon?

j/k guys, don't hurt me.

At least offset the cost by selling space on the vehicle to some rich folks.. maybe some Saudi King or Emir can pony up some oil for some space..

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: MonstaThrilla
I can't believe everyone is so enthusiastic about this. I feel like I've just stepped into the Twilight Zone. What's the point of it all? There is no Soviet Union to beat, there is no space race. Why can't our President actually think of a better, more novel goal that will help people here on Earth?

Set a goal for total energy independence from foreign oil by 2020. Export this technology to friendly nations abroad and soon the despotic regimes of the Middle East will crumble from impotence. When they fall, develop a strategy to make sure free democracies replace them.

Think far into the future, how do you know this wont help us? Sounds like your saying going into space wont help us at. I dont see how going into space to explore is wrong at all. It will give Americans a sense of pride and accomplishment. How would you feel if your country is the first country to have the first man on Mars?

 

[DealMonkey]

Shouldn't we be going to mars (directly) by now? I mean, we've already been to the moon ...

 

[MonstaThrilla]

Originally posted by: Tabb

Originally posted by: MonstaThrilla
I can't believe everyone is so enthusiastic about this. I feel like I've just stepped into the Twilight Zone. What's the point of it all? There is no Soviet Union to beat, there is no space race. Why can't our President actually think of a better, more novel goal that will help people here on Earth?

Set a goal for total energy independence from foreign oil by 2020. Export this technology to friendly nations abroad and soon the despotic regimes of the Middle East will crumble from impotence. When they fall, develop a strategy to make sure free democracies replace them.

Think far into the future, how do you know this wont help us? Sounds like your saying going into space wont help us at. I dont see how going into space to explore is wrong at all. It will give Americans a sense of pride and accomplishment. How would you feel if your country is the first country to have the first man on Mars?

How do you know that this WILL help us? If you can't decisively provide an answer, then maybe billions of our dollars shouldn't be diverted to it.

I already know that our country is the best in the world, and I don't need to see an American on Mars to prove it. I would feel much better if our country actively took steps to promote world peace by NOT starting unilateral preemptive wars. I would feel much better if our country guaranteed health insurance to all its people, and make it the best system in the world. I would feel much better if our country invented the technology to create clean, cheap, renewable energy that would castrate the power of all the Middle Eastern dictatorships.

 

[Dari]

If it's going to cost too much, it's a terrible idea. Why can't they just send tourists up there...for a fee?

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Shouldn't we be going to mars (directly) by now? I mean, we've already been to the moon ...

the moon will be a good place to test.

THe moon is a week or so away, mars is a year.....

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Shouldn't we be going to mars (directly) by now? I mean, we've already been to the moon ...

the moon will be a good place to test.

THe moon is a week or so away, mars is a year.....

I agree. There will be a lot of new technology and designs we'll need to shake down.

As someone who's been a space enthusiast all my life, I have mixed feelings about this. I know the space race in the 60's led to many of the technological advances we're surrounded with today and helped propel America to the forefront of world science, technology, and even commerce. Nonetheless, I have to wonder if we can afford this now. If space pays off again, Bush may be remembered as a visionary like Kennedy. If not, Bush may be remembered as the President who caused the U.S. economy to collapse.

 

[Zebo]

Welcome to newtonian physics and 1960's technology. What a waste.

What the governemnt need to focus on is biotech. From cloning organs to alshiemers desease. This will lead to real breakthoughs.

 

[GrGr]

This administration is against stemcell research remember. Let others do all the breakthroughs (like China).