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House Asks NASA to Postpone Space Plane
PipianJ writes "The House Science Committee has requested NASA to postpone the orbital space plane program (official letter (pdf)), thanks to lingering concern about the safety of the existing space program. On the other hand, isn't one of the ideas behind the orbital space plane program the fact that our current space program is getting more unsafe through the use of 20-year-old equipment?" The Senate is also getting into the act.
For a better idea of the people affecting this decision, consider Robert Park's comment (from the article):
"Manned spaceflight is going nowhere because there's nowhere to go."
Seriously, who IS this genius?
Of course safety should be paramount.
But at what point do you call sending people up into the cold, dark vacuum of space by strapping them to a large rocket safe?
Yeah, I see no problem there.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Hope they weren't desuaded by the results of the "space debris" experiment from the Enterprise Model Test
Diplomacy is the art of saying, "Nice doggie!" until you can find a rock.
> On the third hand, our current space program is getting more unsafe because of the incompetence of NASA
Well, there's part of the problem right there - noone can count anymore! Either that, or there's WAYY too much genetic mutation going on lately. *eek* Still, if it's placed strategically, a third hand *could* come in...ahem...handy. I'll scratch my back, you scratch yours! Handy for those CIA missions in Mexico, too, ala "Once Upon a Time in Mexico." Or a dedicated hand for the joystick. Or the "joystick." Or one just for shaking hands with others - with a glove on, so you don't spread disease. You could use that same gloved hand for handling currency and opening doors (& wiping your butt). Yes, just think of all the diseases that could be eradicated with a single judicious genetic mutation here and there! And while we're at it...
Yes, until we can make inflatable rafts that can't be punctured by cats we shouldn't go into space.
Well, one of the things that would have us losing our edge to communist states is the fact that while we have a Christian-right controlled government that denies science, the communists have science AS a "religion" (or as close as makes no difference).
In the United States, under capitalism (and "democracy") The People feel that they should determine where their tax dollars go, and many feel they would be better spent in places other than the space program (and therefor lack the pride they might have otherwise took in a successful mission). Communist states do everything with the "best interests" of The People in mind, be it subsidising farms or sending a man into space. While the people have no direct choice, they can take pride in everything the state does (obviously, ideally).