(no subject)

[bzarcher]

Oops.

THIS is why "Better, Faster, Lowest Bidder" was a -BAD- idea, NASA. Yes, Apollo was Godawful expensive. BUT, it worked, and when they didn't take huge shortcuts for time, people were safe and equipment didn't fucking break.

I love space. But I think the current NASA administration should be replaced with people who will figure out how to get the job done without making major fuckups on a fairly regular schedule, even if it means doing less per year.

Comments

[lanthinel.livejournal.com]

NASA's funding keeps getting gutted, especially since we're no longer trying to show up the Russians at every turn. Also, space has become blase for most folks -- "Yay, we conquered the moon. That's it, we're done."

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

A sad, but true point....I sometimes think that Allen Steele's right, and the only hope for -anything- in space is going to be private buisnesses.

[lanthinel.livejournal.com]

Which is not necessarily a good thing, IMO. Because it's either that or the military/civilian hawks going on about orbital platforms and "missile defense."

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it, man. Tell me about it.

But quite frankly, if it meant sticking a "Hilton" logo on the side of the ship to get someone out to look at Mars in person, or the outer local group planets...

Sometimes it almost seems a cost I'd pay.

[alathaniel.livejournal.com]

Call me an optimist, but maybe if we get someone with a plan and the will to stick with it in charge of NASA then things will start going well. Failing that, I'll settle for someone who has the guts to tell congress "Our existing shuttle design is twenty years old, and it ages a lot worse than a 747. We need to start work on a replacement now, before the fleet is grounded."

But no ... we'll have to wait until China starts a serious non-ICBM oriented space program. Then we'll spend five years ignoring it before deciding to jump back in the game and try catching up.

[spiralpegasus.livejournal.com]

It's already started. From what I've heard, the PRC is very serious about sending a man into space. And if they get a man in orbit, who knows how long until the Indians and the Europeans start seriously thinking about it.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

India has already been quoted as wanting a Man on the Moon by 2014. Pakistan has said they will beat them there.

What ever happen to 'Came in Peace for All Mankind?'

[lanthinel.livejournal.com]

I remember some movie with some cop looking at the evil-alien who said that saying "Then go in pieces."

Thing is, space was originally a competition: a demonstration of which was better...Russian Communist Resolve or American Capitalist Ingenuity (although, you can switch the Resolve and Ingenuity between the two fairly well).

I won't be surprised if other nations start viewing the Moon and the like as opportunities to elevate themselves in the international community to the level of the USA. In some ways, at least. Besides, it's good for populist and nationalist sentiments in any country.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

True, but by 1969 that had really been put to rest...of course, I suppose that could also be said for why we stopped.

However, we'll see what happens.