First and formost, I beleive that NASA needs a specific long term goal to work towards. Many folks will say "The Space Station" and I would agree that it is a goal. But I am thinking of something a little more far reaching.
Now one poster has mentioned getting rock from the moon and bring it back. That person was a little sarcastic, but he was making a point about technological advances.
I say that not going to the moon, but to rondevous with near earth asteroids should be the course of action. Then to Mars. This requires many technological leaps in many fields. One field, electromagnetics, would gain a good deal of knowledge. This could lead to enormously high levels of tech advanses. A clear goal for NASA to strive for would be very helpful.
It is also interesting to note that yes Goldman cut cost. He also cut important programs to help with the "cutting cost." One of these was the X-33. The development of X-33 would have eventually resulted in Venturestar. Then we can get rid of the expensive, old, complex, and high maintenace shuttle. I think the air force might pick up the X-33 but who knows. When it becomes cheaper to get in orbit, it becomes more feasable to get ME in orbit.:)
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First and formost, I beleive that NASA needs a specific long term goal to work towards. Many folks will say "The Space Station" and I would agree that it is a goal. But I am thinking of something a little more far reaching. Now one poster has mentioned getting rock from the moon and bring it back. That person was a little sarcastic, but he was making a point about technological advances. I say that not going to the moon, but to rondevous with near earth asteroids should be the course of action. Then to Mars. This requires many technological leaps in many fields. One field, electromagnetics, would gain a good deal of knowledge. This could lead to enormously high levels of tech advanses. A clear goal for NASA to strive for would be very helpful. It is also interesting to note that yes Goldman cut cost. He also cut important programs to help with the "cutting cost." One of these was the X-33. The development of X-33 would have eventually resulted in Venturestar. Then we can get rid of the expensive, old, complex, and high maintenace shuttle. I think the air force might pick up the X-33 but who knows. When it becomes cheaper to get in orbit, it becomes more feasable to get ME in orbit. :)