What we can expect from the ME...
Posted on 03/13/2010 6:48:21 PM PST by traumer
Former Apollo astronauts have expressed dismay at President Barack Obama's decision to cancel the Nasa programme that was intended to return mankind to the Moon.
Eugene Cernan, the last man to set foot on the Moon, and Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission said they were disappointed by the decision to cancel Nasa's Constellation Moon programme.
Mr Lovell warned the decision would have "catastrophic consequences" for US space exploration.
The pair spoke to the BBC at a private event held at the Royal Soceity in London on Friday evening. They were joined by the first man on the moon Neil Armstrong.
Mr Lovell said: "Personally I think it will have catastrophic consequences in our ability to explore space and the spin-offs we get from space technology.
"They haven't thought through the consequences."
Mr Cernan, who was the last astronaut to return to the Apollo 17 lunar module in 1972 making him the last man to set foot on the Moon, added:"I'm quite disappointed that I'm still the last man on the Moon.
"I thought we'd have gone back long before now."
"I think America has a responsibility to maintain its leadership in technology and its moral leadership... to seek knowledge. Curiosity's the essence of human existence."
Mr Obama cancelled Nasa's Constellation programme, which was intended to build new rockets and a lander to put astronauts back on the lunar surface by 2020, after stating it was costing too much and was behind schedule.
The programme had been approved by former President George W Bush and was expected to provide a stepping stone towards sending humans to Mars for the first time.
Constellation has come under intense criticism as a drain on Nasa's resources and attempts to design a new rocket system that would replace the aging ....
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Make sure they get their condemnations right: It’s not Bush’s fault; it’s Jack Squat Barry’s fault, kkthx.
I just finished collecting the autographs of the 12 moonwalkers. Sadly it looks like those will be the only one’s in my lifetime.
NASA is really busy right now helping the CIA watch the glaciers and the North Pole melt. Algore’s bank accounts depend upon NASA’s vigilence.
There will be Chinbese, Japanese and opther moonwalkers. The US will sink to second rate explorers. Some company will build a hotel in space and shuttle tourists.
Well aren’t there several other countries with moon trips planned? Wouldn’t want the USA to be in the swim of things you know.
In college I had dreams of man setting foot on Mars. Maybe my grandchildren will see it, or my great granddaughter. In my grandfather's lifetimg we went form the Wright Brothers to the Moon. In my lifetime what? a people tracking network their cell phones tie into...
-snip -
Congress has reacted coolly to the White House proposal, which could lead to thousands of job losses in places like Florida, Texas and elsewhere. Many of the targeted programs involve large contractors such as Lockheed Martin Corp. and Alliant Techsystems Inc.
-snip-
The NASA memo, dated March 2, came just a few days after Mr. Bolden faced a tough round of questioning in Congress over the White House plan."
-end snip-
MARCH 4, 2010
NASA is going to be too busy ‘sharing’ technology with and outreaching to ME countries to be bothered with going to the moon.
Not sure what technology we will receive in return but I’m sure hussein is protecting our interests.
I'm with you. But today... forget about the stars (& planets), think about where you and yours are going when this country's system collapses.
(Can't believe I actually posted that...)
NASA needs to do more outreach to the Muslims.
Just wonder how many voted for that hopey changy thing?
how about this...
since Americans obviously want to have NASA continue... yet congresscritters think not... why not put it to the test.
make a tax write off for any contributions to NASA by taxpayers. this would allow Americans to support the program, if they want to, and allow NASA chiefs to appeal directly to the people for funding, instead of wasting their time with half wits that wouldn’t be able to pass routine security screenings
Among astronauts? Probably very few.
They are far too intelligent and practical to fall for Zero.
I have. I'll be here working on carving out the next republic.
John Glenn...?
Once a hero, but nevermore. Clinton lapdog, worse than Lewinsky IMHO.
“They haven’t thought through the consequences.”
Unfortunately they have. It is part of the plan to move the US from first to third world status. No different than the decision to dramatically reduce the number of weapons in the nuclear arsenal or the decision to explode the deficit.
NASA is a joke now, a jobs program and a waste of money. It was good when the Germans ran it. No BS when Von Braun was running the show.
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