NASA Manned Lunar Program Axed

Dan B. · Feb 2, 2010

Qball said:

Here's the thing about commercializing space....it won't work. Anyone who thinks that commercial companies are actually banking on space tourists (LOL ) is out of their mind. I think that commercialization of space is needed, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW. There is no bottom line profit to be made and any projects will be abandoned quickly by commercial corporations.

The real issue is "the gap". The gap is the lull period that will occur due to no U.S. manned space program that causes a critical break in knowledge to a point where it is not be revived. Basically, our ability to do things that only a few countries can do will be lost as more and more university level students choose not to become Aerospace engineers, astrophysicists, etc. The knowledge dies with the people.

Manned space exploration is a very long term investment. We can't be so short-sighted to let other issues completely negate a progam that costs only about .6% of the budget. Don't hate on NASA just because a bunch of conservatives republicans happen to be the most vocal about it.

Now NASA is not just another, run of the mill, govt program. Space exploration is just a necessity that humans in general have. That's why we go watch Star Wars and Star Trek and the almost infinite amount of other space related movies. You just can't sit there and think that the .0000000000000000000001% of the universe which we call Earth....is it....is all we have to work with.

Space Exploration will continue, I have no doubt about that. It's just that we as a country will not be at the forefront of it. Although this loss can't be quantified, I believe that it is a GREAT loss and as Americans we'll pay a dire price in the future. (To the person that said JFK's support of the moon missions was just anti-soviet propoganda, shame on you, you're pathetic)

As for what NASA has accomplished so far, at the very least, we as a country have "broken even" in terms of finances. But there is more to this program that just jobs creation, Tang and memory-foam matresses. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just plain ignorant.

For the record, I lean more liberal according the clutchfans standards (call me a liberal if you like) and yes I do work for NASA. Please don't bash my points with "ZOMG conservatives, you saying it cause you hate obama" type of BS.
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Sorry, but I don't buy that part. The Hubble photos and Martian Rover pictures did more to advance NASA's perception in the public mind than any manned flight has done in decades.

Just because we are focusing on unmanned travel does not eliminate the need for astrophysicists. And a space program that produces results rather than tragedy followed by tabloid farce would inspire many more into physics.

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NASA Manned Lunar Program Axed

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