NASA to Rely on Russians for Space Transportation

[ltstanfo]

I'll admit this is as much a rant on my part as it is anything else but frankly I am livid that our country is being reduced to reliance on another country for space transportation.

NASA has signed a contract with the Russians to ferry astronauts to and from the ISS in 2013 and 2014.

I fully realize that the effort to retire the shuttle was started during the last administration and I was against it then. What bothers me is that the new president is not only continuing a bad policy but has made it worse by canceling Constellation. Can't this administration get anything right?!

It amazes me that after this calendar year, the US will need someone else to ferry us up to space, be it the Russians or the Chinese... grrrrrrr!

Regards,
Ltstanfo

 

[Robert]

Comes down to money though, doesn't it?

If you think Obama could plough more money into NASA during the current financial pish-flood and expect general praise for it, you're kidding yourself.

Having said that, personally, I'm with you on this one. I think he should be ploughing more in, regardless of what "Fox News" or anyone else thinks. Space exploration is as important as it gets, as far as I'm concerned.

I have an idea on how to finance it too; pull US troops out of foreign countries - all of them - slash military spending and redirect the millions {edit: billions} currently frittered away on Israel to the space programme. Plenty of space R+D cash freed up. ;-)

 

[ltstanfo]

Comes down to money though, doesn't it?

If you think Obama could plough more money into NASA during the current financial pish-flood and expect general praise for it, you're kidding yourself.

Having said that, personally, I'm with you on this one. I think he should be ploughing more in, regardless of what "Fox News" or anyone else thinks. Space exploration is as important as it gets, as far as I'm concerned.

I have an idea on how to finance it too; pull US troops out of foreign countries - all of them - slash military spending and redirect the millions {edit: billions} currently frittered away on Israel to the space programme. Plenty of space R+D cash freed up. ;-)

You've actually got some good idea Robert. Unfortunately, Obama has never really been pro NASA and there was concern at the various space centers here during the 2008 campaign. Sure, he cannot (and likely would not) shut down NASA but he never offered any kind of vision for NASA during his campaign.

That being said, I wouldn't mind our military scaling back or completely leaving several countries provided that the governments of said countries desire it and invoke that option per their respective SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) laws.

As for slashing military spending, it sounds simple enough but it really isn't (IMO). Where exactly do you draw that slashing line? What constitutes required and what is "fluff"? I realize that politics has as much to do with military spending as anything else so maybe the forces leaving has better clarity. :wink:

Finally, I do agree with you that space exploration is very important. On that we are agreed good sir.

Regards,
Ltstanfo

 

[redrumloa]

I have an idea on how to finance it too; pull US troops out of foreign countries

In all seriousness, you wouldn't want the US to pull all troops from everywhere, would you? Who would fill the void? Certainly no other western nation would and the UN without the USA is a threat to none.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

What bothers me is that the new president is not only continuing a bad policy but has made it worse by canceling Constellation. Can't this administration get anything right?!

There's no money left. You spent it on wars and fraud. Should have been watching but everyone must have thought the US was so rich and righteous it couldn't fail.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

As for slashing military spending, it sounds simple enough but it really isn't (IMO). Where exactly do you draw that slashing line? What constitutes required and what is "fluff"?

Hmmm. Let's see. How about not building Burger Kings into US bases. How about not having KBR import sand into Iraq from the UAE to build blast berms. How about having the army build their own showers instead of having KBR build shoddy showers at 10 x the cost that electrocute the troops. How about having the army do its own laundry instead of the contractors that wash laundry in sewage for $100 a bag.

How about the military gets rid of the multibillion dollar (no accounting necessary) bribe fund.

How about the government look for the trillion dollars that Rumsfeld announced was unaccounted for on Sept 10, 2000 (but everyone forgot about the next day).

Bush's two wars were unnecessary and worse than useless and have cost at LEAST another trillion.

The bank bailouts could have been prevented in the same way that the (Bush family riddled) Savings and Loan could have been prevented - with regulations but more importantly effective regulators. There's 40 trillion bucks right there.

With all those savings, everyone in the US could have free healthcare and free college education and still have enough change to go to Mars.

It's a bit late to piss and moan about Constellation. Your country fell apart while you were watching "Survivor" or whatever. You got to rebuild the house before you worry about re-grouting the bathtub.

 

[faethor]

As for slashing military spending, it sounds simple enough but it really isn't (IMO). Where exactly do you draw that slashing line? What constitutes required and what is "fluff"?

The US is the #1 military spender. We outspend the next 14 nations combined. There's easily lots of fluff there. How about something moderate like only outspending the top 10 and trying to reduce from there.

(edit: added a slash where needed)

 

[ltstanfo]

Congratulations to Time Magazine for writing a good article on the recent "plan" by Obama to gut the space program. Pretty good read IMO.

Regards,
Ltstanfo

 

[faethor]

What I see are.
*Encouraging competition for space travel. (Conservatives speak fondly of the ideallistic glories of capitalism. When capitalism is inserted they fall on their backs crying unfair.)

* Goal to get to Mars in 20 years.