I'd like to see a stop to people using terms they learned watching 'From the Earth to the Moon' coming in here acting like they are authorities on space travel.
I'd like to see an American public place a little freakin faith in their space program.
The space shuttle out performed any design expectation. Much like almost every NASA design in the past 40 years. And yet, you all watch a little MSNBC and you think you have the engineering savvy to throw up your own plan.
Laughable.
NASA knows full well what needs to be done, but President after President... Congress after Congress deny them the funds they need to do the job well. Nasa doesn't fail you in space... Washington fails you in space.
Commercial private space flight will be the way of the future, people without congress stepping on their funds... But only if the FAA (people with Congress stepping on their funds will make it happen).
Anyhow, my point is, Scientists aren't messing up our space program... Engineers aren't messing up our space program... Our CONGRESS is messing up our space program. Our President (who claims to want a man on Mars but won't pony up the cash) is messing up our space program.
I think it is a shame that nasa takes the heat for money cut in Congress. Congress killed Venture Star which was supposed to already be in flight... Congress killed funding that could have prevented two shuttles being destroyed... Bush makes his 'return to the moon' speech and effectively kills all useful space flight with a return to capsules and parachutes...
Space is expensive... And those who will not spend the money will lose... Lose to the Chinese who are currently willing to spend any money available to make us look like asses.
Everyone who won't support the U.S. program is just guaranteeing a new 'red moon'.
