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Space Exploration Act of 2002
orn writes "Rep. Lampson introduced a bill (pdf) (H.R. 4742) to the House on May 16th for a human space exploration initiative. I haven't heard a peep about it from the popular press, just a few articles on various space sites: SpaceRef's, the Planetary Society's, the Mars Society's. If you're interested in the sort of thing (and you live in the U.S.), contact your representative and let them know! While you're at it, figure out how to get the popular press aware of this..." On a related note is a story dicussing the controversy over whether the Moon should be developed, which seems a little premature to me.
ISS: NASA admits it doesn't have a handle on the costs here, not the least due to the fact that their accounting sucks rotten eggs.
It couldn't have anything to do with the fact the contractors working on parts for NASA don't have a clue / and or a milking NASA for every penny. e.g. BOEING a major contractor to the government / NASA for aerospace work openly admits that they don't know how much it costs to make one of their flagship products (the 747).
The government is always trying to put more NASA work in the hands of private contractors so who should we blame for the cost overruns ???
It seems like this is the US reacting to China's Plan to create moonbases by 2010. It would be a MAJOR setback for the US if the Chinese were able to do it before the Americans. I mean, the US, the most scientifically advanced country lost the moon to the chinese.
But this brings up another problem. Who's jurisdiction does the moon fall under? It's just like legistlating the internet. Legistlators have to realize that just because there is a law doesn't mean that people will follow it. What they have to do instead is work with other nations and trying to come up with a consensus.
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"I'm not Conceited...I'm just a realist..."
It's a reference to "The Tick." In one episode, the bad guy, who was named Chairface Chippendale (he was a buff guy with a chair for a head), wanted to make the world know who he was, so he decided to write his name on the moon. Luckily, the Tick stopped him ... just not in time.