tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5286169116197063157.post5734299769706756582..comments2023-05-15T08:38:31.781-04:00Comments on Orbital Vector: The Future In Space Has Just Been GuttedPaul Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08745993884341085964noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5286169116197063157.post-53300353421411453232010-02-08T19:54:26.473-05:002010-02-08T19:54:26.473-05:00I too feel some lack of air in my sails about the ...I too feel some lack of air in my sails about the non-moon focus. I think it is pure and simple lack of money. Keep the science in off world platforms for now.The space shuttle program itself needs a new vehicle? When tptb are funding 2 wars and who knows what else it is dificult to find borrowed money forgood projects.Four dollars of ten the gov is using is borrowed. Perhaps there is some quarentine of us going to the moon for the first time? Why did we recently bomb it? DennisDennis/87https://www.blogger.com/profile/03703473570098929681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5286169116197063157.post-89992304601639900932010-02-02T17:55:08.263-05:002010-02-02T17:55:08.263-05:00I would like to point out this: http://www.ted.com...I would like to point out this: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/burt_rutan_sees_the_future_of_space.htmlRob Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13446975557739810498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5286169116197063157.post-75031264817851463622010-01-28T16:53:29.199-05:002010-01-28T16:53:29.199-05:00Oh I am no single issue voter, and I am not a fan ...Oh I am no single issue voter, and I am not a fan of either Bush or Obama or their parties. But I digress: space is a big issue for me.<br /><br />Of Bush's space ambitions, I liked Prometheus. Serious effort into nuclear rocket propulsion since NERVA was canceled in 1972. As for Constellation, well I never liked the idea of doing more of the same old partially reusable vehicle. I thought and still think that funds should have gone into developing a reusable SSTO (extremely difficult to develop but in the long term the costs would be much lower). I would never have supported defunding the ISS though.<br /><br />As for NASA becoming a channel for private business, well I am no fan of corporatism (government using business and vice versa) but I am not against 100% private ventures either: space tourism and sub-orbital travel are areas where private ventures would excel.Zotnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5286169116197063157.post-60011309752358694772010-01-28T07:45:12.838-05:002010-01-28T07:45:12.838-05:00Space policy isn't the only criteria I use in ...Space policy isn't the only criteria I use in voting for a political candidate, but it is a factor. I hate to get political here, but I guess with this subject its inevitable. I have to confess I was never very thrilled with Obama's predecessor, but one thing I acknowledged that he did right was refocusing the space program on a concrete and laudable goal.<br /><br />Of course I didn't realize until this year that Bush never budgeted out any money for his space ambitions, and planned on killing the ISS to pay for it. In light of this, I can kind of understand Obama's position, that the whole Constellation program was a boondoggle being built for a goal no one was paying for.<br /><br />China and the other secondary space powers have at least a decade or more to go before they catch up to where the US and Russia are today in space capabilities. The Russians have always been interested in building space infrastructure rather than exploring; the latter was NASA's great strength and niche. But that's ending now, and NASA simply becomes a funding organ for private business.Paul Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08745993884341085964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5286169116197063157.post-68371076048398736822010-01-28T00:57:08.535-05:002010-01-28T00:57:08.535-05:00In combination with the shuttle to be retired afte...In combination with the shuttle to be retired after the next few flights, we will be entirely reliant on Russia for manned launches. <br /><br />China seems to be the country that will take spaceflight by storm. Funded by selling all their junk to us no less.<br /><br />I hope that in November we get politicians who care more about space and know that access to it is essential for long term security and prosperity, but I am a cynic. The competitive spirit that motivated our first flights into space is gone from many Americans.Zotnoreply@blogger.com