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Senators Demand NASA Continue Spending On Ares

Posted by Soulskill on from the needs-new-rims-for-his-chariot dept.

FleaPlus writes "Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL and ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee handling NASA funding) and Robert Bennett (R-UT) have added an amendment onto an emergency spending bill for military operations in Afghanistan, reiterating that NASA must continue spending its funds on the Constellation program, particularly the medium-lift Ares I rocket. Alabama and Utah have strong ties to Ares/Constellation contractors, and both senators are opposed to the new direction for NASA, with Shelby describing it as a 'death march' for US spaceflight and criticizing the emphasis on commercial rockets."

8 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. Science and Politics by Herkum01 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And this is why the US is such trouble. When politicians are eagerly representing a companies views rather than the country.

    1. Re:Science and Politics by timeOday · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well, personally, I'm thrilled they're trying to keep NASA alive.

      NASA'S new direction is not a budget cut. What they are doing is directing money towards unmanned space flight. IMHO it is a simple question of whether to keep pouring money into the failed Ares program, or redirect it to something more promising.

  2. Pork! Pork! Pork! by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Budget be damned! Hold funding for the troops hostage to a steaming helping of pork. I thought Republicans where supposed to support the troops and be against deficit spending.

    These actions speak louder than words, and I hope the voters are listening this November.

  3. Yes they are listening by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes they are listening, just through republican ears. These are highly tuned and will hear roughly the following: Democrats who vote against this are against funding our troops, republicans who vote for this are voting for our space program!

    Really, politics is a lot simpler then people think.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  4. Republicans have gone space crazy by pedropolis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What planet did I wake up on today? Republicans criticizing the commercialization of low-orbit space flights? Demanding the return of a gigantic, overbudget, behind schedule rocket to nowhere? Obama for the privatization of space and Conservatives for the continuation of a government monopoly on space? Has everyone gone space crazy?!

    1. Re:Republicans have gone space crazy by znu · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The real motivation here is probably to maintain the flow of money to NASA contractors, who happen to also be politically connected defense contractors. In other words, it's the usual crony capitalism that the Republicans seem to favor over actual market competition these days.

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      This space unintentionally left unblank.
  5. It's about jobs in this economy by dammy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's those engineers and support personnel who are about to be out of a job in those states are the ones that need Ares funded. Although I do support the commercialization of space and getting NASA out of the manned LEO rides, I can sympathize with those who are about to be unemployed because of the budget reversal. My memories goes back to the mid 1970s when my father and his friends lost their jobs when Apollo 17 completed it's mission.

    Can I blame those GOP Senators for pushing for funding to keep jobs in their state? Nope, sure can't. Do I think it should be funded, nope, sure don't.

    1. Re:It's about jobs in this economy by jfengel · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Can I blame those GOP Senators for pushing for funding to keep jobs in their state?

      You can when they're also pushing for an end to earmarks, reduced government spending, and a generalized "the government can't do anything right" attitude.

      "Small government" is a valid position, but "reduce spending on everybody but me" is an attitude that merits blame.