NASA Planning Lunar Mining Tests, Other New Tech

FleaPlus writes "NASA has released the initial details on its ETDD (Enabling Technology Development and Demonstrations) program to 'develop and demonstrate the technologies needed to reduce cost and expand the capability of future space exploration activities.' The ETDD program is initially planning on funding small-scale demonstrations in five technology areas: in-situ resource utilization (with a robotic lunar resource extraction mission in 2015), high-power electric propulsion, autonomous precision landing (building on the success of the Lunar Lander Challenge), human-robotic collaboration (2011/2012), and fission power systems. More info on NASA's larger-scale Flagship Technology Demonstrations (FTD) program is expected in the coming month."

Comments

*yawn*

[esseffe]

these are the holdover missions that NASA will have to be content with until there is an administration that is serious about space exploration. i'll be excited when they start planning to set up manned space stations on the moon.

Re:*yawn*

[jackspenn]

No you won't. People don't solve complex problems never before attempted or tried just because. They solve complex problems and do things never attempted before in pursuit of a goal. These are effectively research grants, the way you keep the money flowing is say "we're working on it, but for that key next step we will need more funding for next year."

Also there is a reason we should put people in SPACE, the reason is because we are a group of explorers and doers. Once we remove the challenging parts, we'll be neither.

I'll let you in on something all you Obama cocksuckers don't understand. This nation is declining, it is not going to be a great nation where people who work hard wish to come. It will fail to lead the world in things like Space or Medicine (both of which our Congress and President have trashed).

We're replacing the explorers and visionaries who discovered and defined the world with egotistical intellectuals, who mistakenly think they understand the real world. The best way to expand and increase the cost effectiveness of NASA is convert it to a goal driven agency. Don't pay to research or study something. Instead setup prizes like the X-Prize or Google's Android challenges to motivate everyday Americans, small business startups, Universities, etc. to solve challenges. Send a rocket to the moon get X million. Put a Satellite in orbit of the moon get Y million, send a crew to circle the moon get Z million, etc. Then we the tax payers only pay for success and we only pay the winning scientists (or garage engineers). But with this current NASA funding joke, we will get the bill with no results.