Mars in 2030?
Based on the early reports, I am disappointed. My eight month old son will be out of college before the earliest date we imagine being on Mars. We might not even be back on the moon until 2020, and they're talking about robotic missions to scout the way to the moon. Jeebus! We've done that, we've been there! Just go back for Chrissakes. At most, put up a lunar orbiter with a really good camera to pick a landing site.
Also, I am very dubious about this crew exploration vehicle. Something that launches from the Earth and lands on the moon does not sound smart. I'll do some more research, but this doesn't sound like a bold plan to explore the cosmos.
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Buckethead
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I hate to engage in knee-jerk
I hate to engage in knee-jerk bush-bashing but here I go...
Typical of his style, Bush has articulated a grand vision of the future, lowballed the price by an order of magnitude, and deferred the cost until he and his successors are well out of office and harm's way. Bordering on pathetic.
This whole "space thing" can
This whole "space thing" can be translated as follows: "Look over there! Not here! Over there!".
I GUARANTEE that Hussein's trial will occur roughly three months before the election, with a quick resolution.
You mean the new space
You mean the new space initiative is all about the oil? Wow, everything must be about the oil.
What exactly is Bush trying to distract people from? Attacks in Iraq are down 50%, and we caught Saddam. The economy is doing well and getting better. The Democratic candidates are in a cannibalistic love feast. Things are good. Do you have to assume that everything Bush does has some Machiavellian and evil motive?
Johno's critique is a lot more plausible, and I agree with most of it. But at least there's a grand vision in there. And what does a poorly thought out and vague plan to go to Mars have to do with Saddam? Who will be tried by the Iraqis in any event?
Sheesh.
O'Neill's book required
O'Neill's book required immediate distracting. The space thing accomplished that perfectly. Well done.
Unlike Repuglicans, the rest of us don't believe that the entire world rotates around Iraq.
Bush Sr. had a mars program evaluated and the price tag came out at $50 Billion, in 1990 dollars. Seeing as how Bush hasn't funded this thing, exactly how does his announcement do anything other than muddy political waters?
Ross, the rumors have been
Ross, the rumors have been floating around for this announcement for a couple months now - many thought that Bush would make this announcement on the centenary of flight, Dec 17.
Bush Sr.'s Mars plan had a price tag of $450 billion (1990 dollars), the result of a curiously naive NASA planning staff.
And, you brought Saddam into this, I didn't, so apparently you're closer to thinking the world revolves around Iraq than I am.
And while I think the funding ideas in the plan are unrealistic, he provides $1 bn in new funding, and the rest comes from reduced spending on the Shuttle and ISS.
Not everything is a conspiracy. I think they were waiting for a success with the Mars lander before making the announcement - it would have looked ridiculous announcing a goal of a human mission to Mars in the wake of another failed Mars mission.
And I hope your misspelling of "Republican" was a typo.
Not exactly a typo ;)
Not exactly a typo ;)
I am being pretty cynical in my treatment of Bush, here...but that is sort of my job. I don't know that the announcement was made purely for political purposes. I do know that it has had fortuitous politicals effects.