DescentBB

Obama's limp-wristed retreat from manned space exploration has gotten Neil Armstrong (the first American AND first human to set foot on the Moon) very angry.

Although I, personally, don't think we should go to Mars first (we should set up shop on the Moon, then maybe go to Mars later on;) manned space flight is essential to America's international lead in technology and exploration.

Star Wars: Neil Armstrong, Obama Spar Over NASA's Future

By Jeremy A. Kaplan - FOXNews.com

The first man to walk on the moon has blasted off at the Obama administration's stripped-down space plans, describing the president's proposals as \"devastating.\" But supporters of the president's latest plan, which will be unveiled on Thursday, insist all systems are go for an accelerated rocket program that sets new goals for the American effort in outer space...

Rest of the article here:

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/ ... latestnews

I certainly respect the opinions of Armstrong and the other Apollo-era astronauts, but calling this a full-fledged \"retreat\" from manned exploration is a bit disingenuous. I have some major concerns about the Constellation program being flat-out scrapped myself (and I don't think Congress will allow it to come to pass), but the big focus on developing viable commercial spaceflight options is a definite plus. If we ever want to get off this rock on anything resembling a large scale, we can't keep relying on a single government exploratory agency to perform routine cargo flights; we need private industry to step up and provide larger-scale, more cost-effective alternatives. And really, without a viable plan for establishing a long-term habitat, the Moon portion of the Constellation program wasn't much more than a repeat of the one-shot Apollo flights of 40 years ago. If we can't get up there and stay up there, I don't see a whole lot of use in just getting up there period.

(Also note that the article you link states that Buzz Aldrin is very much in favor of the plan.)

Woo, right thread!

I feel that NASA has killed the space program through cowardice, inefficiency and incompetence.
What the space program needs is a move towards the private sector. So, this turns out to be one Obama decision that I think may have merit.

well with the way NASA has neutered it's own space program, the only thing i can say to that is: no duh.

I think Obama is making the wrong moves. I mean, it's Neil Armstrong that has piped up. He never comes out of his cave to comment on anything major related the space program.

Obama is also announcing a new plan that he has for the program that will save a few jobs. Unless he is announcing the Expediator or something, I will not be impressed.

Top Gun wrote:I certainly respect the opinions of Armstrong and the other Apollo-era astronauts, but calling this a full-fledged "retreat" from manned exploration is a bit disingenuous. I have some major concerns about the Constellation program being flat-out scrapped myself (and I don't think Congress will allow it to come to pass), but the big focus on developing viable commercial spaceflight options is a definite plus. If we ever want to get off this rock on anything resembling a large scale, we can't keep relying on a single government exploratory agency to perform routine cargo flights; we need private industry to step up and provide larger-scale, more cost-effective alternatives....

you are quite inconsistent in your faith in the superiority of the private sector over government....**cough**healthcare**cough**

I was thinking the same thing.

Will Robinson wrote:

Top Gun wrote:I certainly respect the opinions of Armstrong and the other Apollo-era astronauts, but calling this a full-fledged "retreat" from manned exploration is a bit disingenuous. I have some major concerns about the Constellation program being flat-out scrapped myself (and I don't think Congress will allow it to come to pass), but the big focus on developing viable commercial spaceflight options is a definite plus. If we ever want to get off this rock on anything resembling a large scale, we can't keep relying on a single government exploratory agency to perform routine cargo flights; we need private industry to step up and provide larger-scale, more cost-effective alternatives....

you are quite inconsistent in your faith in the superiority of the private sector over government....**cough**healthcare**cough**

hahahahaha

Will Robinson wrote:

Top Gun wrote:I certainly respect the opinions of Armstrong and the other Apollo-era astronauts, but calling this a full-fledged "retreat" from manned exploration is a bit disingenuous. I have some major concerns about the Constellation program being flat-out scrapped myself (and I don't think Congress will allow it to come to pass), but the big focus on developing viable commercial spaceflight options is a definite plus. If we ever want to get off this rock on anything resembling a large scale, we can't keep relying on a single government exploratory agency to perform routine cargo flights; we need private industry to step up and provide larger-scale, more cost-effective alternatives....

you are quite inconsistent in your faith in the superiority of the private sector over government....**cough**healthcare**cough**

Awww, that's cute.

I mean, it's not like the private sector could ever be a more suitable environment for certain endeavors, while the public sector could work better for others, right?

...no, never. It's either all for one or the other, specific details be damned!

Now if you kiddies are done derailing this thread to hell, could we put on our big-boy pants and get back to talking about actual space-related affairs?

Space is big.

Not if you bend it.

Isaac wrote:Not if you bend it.

Just poke a hole through it.

Same thing.

Top Gun wrote:

Will Robinson wrote:

Top Gun wrote:I certainly respect the opinions of Armstrong and the other Apollo-era astronauts, but calling this a full-fledged "retreat" from manned exploration is a bit disingenuous. I have some major concerns about the Constellation program being flat-out scrapped myself (and I don't think Congress will allow it to come to pass), but the big focus on developing viable commercial spaceflight options is a definite plus. If we ever want to get off this rock on anything resembling a large scale, we can't keep relying on a single government exploratory agency to perform routine cargo flights; we need private industry to step up and provide larger-scale, more cost-effective alternatives....

you are quite inconsistent in your faith in the superiority of the private sector over government....**cough**healthcare**cough**

Awww, that's cute.

I mean, it's not like the private sector could ever be a more suitable environment for certain endeavors, while the public sector could work better for others, right?

...no, never. It's either all for one or the other, specific details be damned!

Now if you kiddies are done derailing this thread to hell, could we put on our big-boy pants and get back to talking about actual space-related affairs?

I feel hurt.

It won't be until private business finds something profitable to do in space, that we will wind up fully engaged in utilizing space.

Space for rent!