People Poll - America's Future in Space

In light of the current situation with Discovery and the status of NASA, also considering its achievements over the last 40 years, what should the US's future in space be?

1. Abandon the Space Program. It waste tax dollars on things that don't benefit the common man. Man wasn't meant to be in space anyway! :wacko:

2. Retire Shuttle, but persue a projects in near-earth orbit, leaving the Moon and Mars for the mid-decades of this century We should build a new vehicle, but focus on building the Space Station. Robots have proven themselves adept at exploring Mars. Man can wait. :)

3. Mars-ward Ho! Kick those who lack the vision and ambition for this venture out of NASA and the government. Increase NASA's budget by tens of billions. Crash research into new propulsion and engines. Settle the Moon and make it a base for the journey to Mars, etc :cool:

4. Leave it to Branson! NASA has its place, but let capitalists like Richard Branson lead the way with space commerical flights, space station hotels, moon tours, etc. Soon the public will cry out to colonize Mars and Virgin Martian Real Estate will lead the way. :rofl:

Leave crewed spaceflight to private companies. NASA I suppose should focus on uncrewed space flight(probes) and maybe subsidize the creation of an ultra low cost booster(not that this booster would b for crewed flight). I had in mind a really 'simple' booster made out of steel that uses alcohal for fuel. Something like this or this well probably smaller.

More suited to the Backroom, methinks.

3 if you want the majority of the population to care about space exploration anymore. Otherwise go 4.
2 or 1 would just be too backward.

I think that NASA should continue with the Space Program, but scrap the shuttle's they are currently using and give them to museums. They're far too old to be using operationally, and they have a tendency to blow up for seemingly no reason. They should go ahead with a new program to build some new types of shuttles. And also, there should be more private space companies, trying to build their own shuttles and space stations.

I have read books with quotes from US government sources that implied that there are elements in the government that already consider space territory that can be claimed for a nation...

Whilst many other nations have already signed an agreement that stipulates space/spacial bodies etc is for 'everybody' and 'un-claimable'

Quite disconcerting...

It is for everybody though. After all, the Earth is always moving through space, so it would be impossible to make a claim on particular part of it.

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Originally Posted by Mikeus Caesar

It is for everybody though. After all, the Earth is always moving through space, so it would be impossible to make a claim on particular part of it.

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By that definition then, every nation is moving too. Yet there are territorial disputes and claims all the time...

And besides, is it really beyond the realms of possibility the the US might decide they and they alone should have X or Y???

America's futur in space lies in a closer partnership with other countries, like Canada and Europe. One day, the western civilisation will have to regroup for major project like Mars.

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Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

I think we should claim the moon as our own, and set up some sort of lunar missile station/death star sort of thing, and hold the world hostage. :book:

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'The power to destroy a planet is insignifacant next to the power of the force' ~;)

bah, lets go all out, mars today tomorrow the universe!!

who cares if it costs billions of dollars, mars is the adventure of a lifetime, you think the european explorers sat in their ports thinking "well lads hwat u want to do today? sail the english channel or be the first person to circumnavigate the globe, and heck maybe find a new continent to name after ourselves?"

#3

There's a big project going on, labelled The International Space Station. More projects like this and MUCH MORE MONEY is the way to go.


oh, and keep in mind what exploration in general have brought us so far. Colombus brought the potato from "india"

Marco Polo brough spices, cloth and porcelein

Imagine what space can bring!

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Originally Posted by Big King Sanctaphrax

More suited to the Backroom, methinks.

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That's just cold... now the original poster can't respond (junior member) ~D .

NASA should continue with scientific probes, and should probably coordinate propulsion and launch R&D. Until launch costs can be reduced, trips to Mars should wait.

4 is gonna happen anyway as long as there is money it. NASA needs a long term vision so having Mars as goal would be nice but it doesnt have to big project from the start. Lots of R&D is to be made which could reduce costs.


CBR

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Originally Posted by drone

That's just cold... now the original poster can't respond (junior member) ~D

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Yeah, poor bastdard! ~D


Go for number 3. Pump lots of cash into space exploration and abandon the shuttles and the ISS.

But they better not do things to fast, hence I think the 'no earlier than 2015' is a good limit for travels to the Moon.

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Originally Posted by lancelot

I have read books with quotes from US government sources that implied that there are elements in the government that already consider space territory that can be claimed for a nation...

Whilst many other nations have already signed an agreement that stipulates space/spacial bodies etc is for 'everybody' and 'un-claimable'

Quite disconcerting...

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Screw the Moon Treaty. NONE of the major spacefairing nations have signed it(well you could maje an arguement for Indai and France), and it would only slow down/stop developement in space. Everyone would argue they aren't getting their cut.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Treaty

3 and 4 together is the best way to go.

#4 is the best way to go those tax dollars are needed elsewhere but i don't want to see our space programm shutdown because of lack of funding

NASA should only focus on Star Wars weapon systems.. I liked Cube's idea about the moon.

I think Mars would be just like the moon.. a whole lot of money and very disappointing.. why do we need people on Mars anyway? We have drones to waste huge amounts of money on and then we dont all feel guilty when they blow up.