Future of NASA's Manned Spaceflight Looks Bleak

coondoggie writes "Things don't look good for NASA when the report outlining its future begins: 'The US human spaceflight program appears to be on an unsustainable trajectory. [NASA] is perpetuating the perilous practice of pursuing goals that do not match allocated resources. Space operations are among the most complex and unforgiving pursuits ever undertaken by humans. It really is rocket science. Space operations become all the more difficult when means do not match aspirations.' Today the Augustine Commission handed to the White House the Review of US Human Space Flight Plans Committee summary report, after months of expert review and testimony. Many observers expected a bleak report, but ultimately the future of US manned space flight will hinge on how the report's conclusions are interpreted. Keep in mind too that NASA has spent almost $8 billion of a planned $40 billion to develop systems for a return to the Moon."

Comments

Re:Escape the fishbowl

[KeensMustard]

This "Send Robots Instead" nonsense is just that -- Nonsense.

Thanks for clearing that up for us.

Mankind's Manifest Destiny may have nothing but an unmarked grave in your hearts, but for millions, perhaps billions, the reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated.

I hate to break it you but:

1. "Mankind" has no Manifest Destiny
2. On the whole, very few people subscribe to the theology of a Manifest Destiny any more - mostly because the purpose of the Manifest Destiny was for Europeans to justify invading someone elses land, taking their stuff and making money from the ill gotten gains.

So while you might hope for and preach a revival, the vast majority of our race NEVER subscribed to it and is quite justified in letting it lie in it's grave.