Taking flight [Back to the moon and on to Mars]

The Washington Times ^ | January 10, 2004 | House Editorial

[xsysmgr]

It won't be the first step, and it may not be the largest. But the Bush administration's announced decision to send Americans back to the moon and then to Mars marks a welcome step.

Mr. Bush is expected to announce the details of the plan in a speech next week. The first step is likely to be development of technologies and equipment needed for the establishment of a permanent base on the moon, such as heavy-lifting rockets and new landing vehicles. Lessons learned from the lunar outpost would be applied to a manned Mars mission, which would take flight around 2020. As a consequence of that new exploratory focus, the shuttle fleet would be retired and America's role in the International Space Station would be phased out.

[trek]

I wonder if the TSA will have to screen the astronauts before boarding the spacecraft.

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[tet68]

I wonder if the TSA will have to screen the astronauts before boarding the spacecraft

They will on the way back.
No profileing either, just because you're wearing a space suit is not cause.

[boris]

It simply is not going to happen.

[billorites]

Thanks, anyway.

I'd rather have a tax cut.

[JoeSchem]

The first Bush Administration proposed a bold program to put Men on Mars for the low, low price of just $500 billion. And that was back when half a trillion dollars was real money!

You kids enjoy the fantasy. I've seen enough of the Family Bush in action to know where this is going.

[attiladhun2]

A renewal of the space program would stimulate economic growth like few other things would. Better than a tax cut it would produce revenues.

[billorites]

"A renewal of the space program would stimulate economic growth like few other things would."

I'm sure you're right, but I'll just take a tax cut.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[JoeA]

Remember all that came out of the space program: the entire high-tech industry was spawned by it. I say let's do it again!