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USA To Return To Moon By 2015, Then Mars
securitas writes "This afternoon George Bush announced space exploration plans for the USA to return to the Moon by 2015, the design and construction of a new space vehicle fleet by 2014 (called the Crew Exploration Vehicle) to replace the aging space shuttles which will be retired in 2010, and the construction of a permanent Moon base, followed by manned missions to Mars. The initiative begins with a $1 billion increase to NASA's budget and $12 billion in new space exploration money over next five years. However Congress is concerned about how to pay for the new space policy initiative in the face of a $500 billion national budget deficit. AP via Yahoo has a Moon/Mars/space policy FAQ, and there's more at NASA and the New York Times among others."
If the shuttle is retired in 2010, and the new vehicle is available in 2014 (later, if it's delayed), then this leaves nothing for four years. Not good.
I understand your point completely - IMHO.
No, no one actually wants to live in the desert anymore than they want to live on the moon. Like the saying goes "It's a nice place to visit, with a heck of a view, but I wouldn't want to live there."
I think the whole idea is proposterous for the $ aspect alone. Yes. The money could definately be much better spent here on Earth. Let the Chinese develop new space tech. Just because it's their first go at space doesn't mean that we might not get some free advances from what they learn. I'm tired of us paying for science that gets exported all around the globe.
Just givin' prop's.
Stuff that matters.
Apparently somebody has told Bush that Marvin The Martian has stocks of WMDs.