People Poll - America's Future in Space

[Lord Nobunaga]

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!

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

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:

[discovery1]

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.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

More suited to the Backroom, methinks.

[Al Khalifah]

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.

[Mikeus Caesar]

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.

[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...

[drone]

More suited to the Backroom, methinks.

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

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.

[CBR]

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

[Viking]

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

Yeah, poor bastdard!


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.

[Strike For The South]

#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

[PanzerJaeger]

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.