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US Space Policy Update Urges International Cooperation
eldavojohn writes "The recent shift in NASA's spaceflight goals has caused great stress in the space community and those related to efforts in space. A White House update to the policy is said to emphasize cooperation with the international community and looks to be a move away from individual nations competing in space. Instead, the document urges intense competition (PDF) in the commercial sector and reasons that 'The United States considers the sustainability, stability, and free access to, and use of, space vital to its national interests. It is the shared interest of all nations to act responsibly in ways that emphasize openness and transparency, and help prevent mishaps, misperceptions, and mistrust.' Space.com also notes that you can submit your comments and thoughts to the task force Obama appointed to determine new directions. No doubt this avoidance or departure from another Space Race will have a lot of people concerned that the US is out of the game."
...do
Those that can't...watch the liftoff on TV.
A White House update to the policy is said to emphasize cooperation with the international community and looks to be a move away from individual nations competing in space
In other words, the US has realized it is broke and now wants the rest of the world to foot the bill for space exploration.
It really boils down to one question. Do you want the UN in charge of space and the space program?
Not only no but FUCK NO.
With a few exceptions I'm not sure what else the rest of the world has to offer other than plublicity pieces. Europe has got some tech, but no money. Russia is still farting around with the surplus they had from the cold war, so not much interesting there. China steals 5 pieces of tech for every 1 they build, and all the hand wringing over how much the US debt they "own" really doesn't amount to much in the way of cash. Japan has tech and money and make cool cartoons and robots, but other than them the rest of the world doesn't have much to bring to the table.
If the US government is more concerned with making sure that every fat piece of shit in America can have health care to support the redicuous life style they maintian I don't see how they are ever going to get back into space.
The sooner a US company get's their ass into space the better.
So, Obama, you want to encourage US participation, both commercial and government, in the international market in the space industry? I have the first, most important step for you right here:
1. Mandate, by law, that we switch our outdated asses over to the standard metric unit system. Trying to explain to a Russian, what slugs and ft-lbf's are is about as much fun as you had trying to explain the U.S. healthcare bill to Sarah Palin.
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