The President's Space Initiative Speech

"Mutts" wrote in message
...

"All I've got to say is please, for pity's sake, stop worrying about
NASA stealing money from your favorite federal program and adding to
the deficit. Out of a $2 trillion-plus budget in 2004, human resources
programs (Education, Health and Human Services, HUD, Labor, Social
Security, etc.) will get an astounding 34%! In contrast, NASA has the
smallest budget of all the major agencies in the Federal government.
In fact, its budget has represented less than 1% of the total budget
each year since 1977 and it will probably never get more than a
fraction above that, even with this new plan."


Wouldn't that depend on where you drew the line between major and minor
federal agencies?

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 16:26:28 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"

So space is a new US territory, and we're exploring it for the purpose of
erection of forts, magazines, dockyards and other needful buildings?


And what do you think our lives would be like if there had been
no exploration of space at all?

What is our very home of Earth but a spacecraft itself? carrying 6
billion astronauts around our star, the sun, which is circling the
galaxy? Don't you think that what we learn extending ourselves into
space will directly benefit and improve how we live on Earth? Its the
same problems. Recycling water, small power sources, efficient ways
to grow food. The benefits are huge. We just dont know what
we will learn on this journey. That is the spirit and purpose of
exploration, it is no different then then now. The frontiers
have changed is all.

"Mutts" wrote in message
...

And what do you think our lives would be like if there had been
no exploration of space at all?


Vastly different than it is now. Tell me, when should the US government
adhere to the Constitution and when should it not?

"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
One of the most laughable parts of Bush's speech was when
he said that a human base on the moon would make space
exploration cheaper? Yep folks, according to the president,
a moon base is going to SAVE us some money.
Oooookaaay.

The science behind interplanetary space travel dictates that
a moon base WILL make space exploration cheaper.

The main cost of space exploration is in the booster system
required to escape Earth's gravity. Launching from the
moon's lesser gravitational pull is much easier, requires
smaller rockets, and is thus much cheaper.

Everything launched from the moon will have to be launched from Earth
first. Anything going to Mars will have to escape gravity twice.

We will have to fund two spaceports, one of which will have to be
resupplied by rocket ships. How is this going to be cheaper?
--

The only way one can avoid this to have a moon colony which can produce
stuff for the 2nd launch instead of getting it from earth. That means
setting up a self-sustaining moon colony plus more. How long is that going
to take? The ISS is not done, and space shuttle program is in remission.
Wow, talk about pipe dreams. This will be a 50-100 year program. It's
probably a good long term goal, but the timing is a bit suspect.

"Dan Luke" wrote:

Everything launched from the moon will have to be launched from Earth
first. Anything going to Mars will have to escape gravity twice.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Materials for radiation shielding,
perhaps fuel or oxidizer are available on the moon.
Construction is likely to be easier than on-orbit, and a
Mars mission is likely to be heavier than a single boost can
accommodate.


Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
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"Dan Luke" wrote:

Which is exactly why we went in the first place, and why the Chinese are
talking about going now: for the propaganda value.

I won't argue. Value is value. I'd like America to be
thought of and ultimately remembered as the strongest
supporter of humanity's space program, not just the only
nation to ever use a nuclear weapon in war.

Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
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In article et, "Steven P.
McNicoll" writes:


So space is a new US territory, and we're exploring it for the purpose of
erection of forts, magazines, dockyards and other needful buildings?



More like the open seas, but we have bases established all over the world to
support the Navy in its efforts to keep those seas open.

If we are to keep space open for our use, both commercial and military, we must
explore it and establish the necessary presence there.

Don

--
Wm. Donald (Don) Tabor Jr., DDS
PP-ASEL
Chesapeake, VA - CPK, PVG

"Wdtabor" wrote in message
...

More like the open seas, but we have bases established all over the world
to
support the Navy in its efforts to keep those seas open.

If we are to keep space open for our use, both commercial and military, we
must
explore it and establish the necessary presence there.


We keep sea lanes open for purposes of commerce. Who are we trading with in
space?

"Dave Stadt" wrote:

But you have to have the money to start with. This country does not have
the money to pay for current or future needs much less dreams. Get rid of
the deficit then you can go play Star Trek.

Give me the power to prioritize the spending and I'll give
you a balanced budget and a man on Mars in 10 years. I pay
my taxes and watch the farm lobby push for subsidies that
pay them not to grow things, and drop the prices so low that
African countries can't grow crops to compete. I pay taxes
and watch the sports teams get funding for stadiums. There
will always be things you don't want money spent on and
things I don't want it spent on. Spending it on space will
push our technological edge and our political edge. It
helps us regain the moral high ground in the world. It
gives us greater security against the threat of the near
Earth asteroid or comment strike that could destroy this
world. It's something that will happen eventually or this
world and humanity will ultimately disappear from the
universe. Every generation of humanity needs to take a few
steps towards the future. It's our turn now. One percent
of the budget is not too much to spend on the future. The
return on that investment is worth far more than what it
costs.
Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
___
Make a commitment to learn something from every flight.
Share what you learn.

In article et, "Steven P.
McNicoll" writes:


We keep sea lanes open for purposes of commerce. Who are we trading with in
space?


You ever use a GPS? Get a weather report? Make a long distance call? Watch TV?

Do you think anyone anticipated they would use those services when we navigated
with sextants?

Don

--
Wm. Donald (Don) Tabor Jr., DDS
PP-ASEL
Chesapeake, VA - CPK, PVG