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Future of NASA's Manned Spaceflight Looks Bleak

Posted by kdawson on from the send-out-the-machines dept.

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."

7 of 452 comments (clear)

  1. How can you... by sgage · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... fund a manned space program when you blow all your resources on worthless, unnecessary wars?

    Why is it we can afford a f***ing trillion dollars on the f***ing wars, and not put together a credible space program?

    I guess there's no profit in it, and our state religion won't allow that. That's why we're not only not going to have a manned space program. It's why we're fucked as a nation in general.

    It's just mind-boggling, but there it is.

    1. Re:How can you... by sgage · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Not Christianity.

      More like Christo-Rightwing-uber-corporate fascism.

      Which has nothing to do with real Christianity, though the practitioners thereof often make loud noises about their Christianity. Hypocritical lying sacks of shit that they are.

    2. Re:How can you... by Entropius · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'd add to that:

      "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
                  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
        Blessed are those who mourn,
                  for they will be comforted.
        Blessed are the meek,
                  for they will inherit the earth.
        Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
                  for they will be filled.
        Blessed are the merciful,
                  for they will be shown mercy.
        Blessed are the pure in heart,
                  for they will see God.
        Blessed are the peacemakers,
                  for they will be called sons of God.
        Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
                  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

    3. Re:How can you... by Samy+Merchi · · Score: 5, Insightful

      We could simply defer manned space exploration until such time as it becomes less expensive

      What makes you assume such time will come without investing in it?

      You're suggesting just sitting on our asses and hoping some magical tech will just materialize that will make everything just teddy bears and rainbows.

    4. Re:How can you... by Leebert · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It sure as hell is Christianity holding back the space program.

      Odd. I'm a Christian. I work for NASA. I know several of us who work there. Among my church, most everyone whom I've ever discussed NASA with is interested in or excited about human spaceflight.

      What's holding back the space program is the fact that NASA is constantly being jacked around politically, for various reasons. Always has been, and I'm afraid to say, always will be.

      Space shuttle? Political jacking around (You need to play nice with the DoD and make your spacecraft serve their inane purposes as well as yours. Oh, and on a tighter budget.) Space Station? Same. It goes on and on.

      Christians believe that they will be abducted by a sky-zombie and taken to fairy-land.

      Aside from Scientologists, I don't really mock anyone's religion. I think they're all wrong, I think you're wrong, but I try to not be obnoxious about it. Perhaps you were trying to be funny, and I missed it.

  2. You want to know "bleak"? Let me show you. by Jon+Abbott · · Score: 5, Insightful

    According to WallStats, NASA's funding for 2010 is $18.7 billion. According to The New York Times, the amount of bailout funds committed by the U.S. Government to Bear Stearns and AIG (both of which are fraudulent companies) is $82 billion. That is 4.4 times the amount of funding that NASA is receiving next year. If the manned space program is canceled, let it be known that it was due to debacles such as this.

    --
    Slashdot's first reaction to VMware
  3. Re:You want to know "bleak"? Let me show you. by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If only NASA was too big to fail......

    --
    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.