Slashdot Mirror


Trump Offered NASA Unlimited Funding To Put People on Mars by 2020, Report Says (nymag.com)

From a report, based on a book by Cliff Sims, who worked as a communications official for Trump on his presidential campaign and in the West Wing: As the clock ticked down, Trump "suddenly turned toward the NASA administrator." He asked: "What's our plan for Mars?" Lightfoot explained to the president -- who, again, had recently signed a bill containing a plan for Mars -- that NASA planned to send a rover to Mars in 2020 and, by the 2030s, would attempt a manned spaceflight. "Trump bristled," according to Sims. He asked, "But is there any way we could do it by the end of my first term?"

Sims described the uncomfortable exchange that followed the question, with Lightfoot shifting and placing his hand on his chin, hesitating politely and attempting to let Trump down easily, emphasizing the logistical challenges involving "distance, fuel capacity, etc. Also the fact that we hadn't landed an American anywhere remotely close to Mars ever." Sims himself was "getting antsy" by this point. With a number of points left to go over with the president, "all I could think about was that we had to be on camera in three minutes .. And yet we're in here casually chatting about shaving a full decade off NASA's timetable for sending a manned flight to Mars. And seemingly out of nowhere."

12 of 600 comments (clear)

  1. It's possible by CrashPoint · · Score: 5, Funny

    We could absolutely put people on Mars by 2020.

    But if you want them to be alive when they get there, it'll take a bit longer.

  2. Businessman by VeryFluffyBunny · · Score: 5, Funny

    Trump's one of those "businessmen" who think two women can bring a baby to term in 4 1/2 months.

    --
    Debate is a form of harassment. Do not question my truth.
  3. Re:He can't even get the money for his stupid wall by GameboyRMH · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well he could try the same tactic: Explicitly lay out a plan on how the Martians will pay for it, and then act like he never did so and shut down the government until taxpayers pay for it (or more likely, until he gets bored, or people get so tired of his BS that they're ready for a political impeachment).

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  4. Wait, so can we send Trump by rsilvergun · · Score: 4, Funny

    and maybe Mitch McConnell? Asking for a friend.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:Wait, so can we send Trump by Known+Nutter · · Score: 1, Funny

      At least Quayle gave us "potatoe" -- so, there's that...

      --
      Beware of the Leopard.
  5. Re:He asked the wrong guy by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 4, Funny

    I commented publicly (here maybe) that Trump should pay Elon whatever he wants to start a moonbase during his first term. It was achievable then with Falcon Heavy but sadly for both they never read /.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  6. Re:Just realised... by ItsJustAPseudonym · · Score: 4, Funny

    He needs the same answer: "Little girl, don't touch that squirrel's nuts!"

  7. Re:Just realised... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, he asked, didn't he? Isn't that what a leader is supposed to do? How is a real estate developer supposed to know the intricacies of space travel?

    I mean, Obama didn't know jack about health care, so he went to the insurance lobby for help. And you guys LOVE that.

  8. Re:Who cares? by squiggleslash · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or just a Tesla. They can launch a Tesla into space with four space suited astronauts (two in the front, two in the back.) Easy-peasy.

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  9. Re:He can't even get the money for his stupid wall by sjames · · Score: 4, Funny

    If only he could get the stupid Mongorians to stop breaking down his shitty wall.

  10. Re:First Term? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1, Funny

    Cut up and down your arms, not across when he's re-elected.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  11. Re:He can't even get the money for his stupid wall by subie · · Score: 2, Funny

    Trump never at any point said Mexico was going to cut a check to pay for the wall. What he meant is that because of the trade agreements, Mexico will pay for it one way or another. Why can't my fellow democrats do a little research??