Quote:
Originally Posted by billethkid
endeavors? Why?
I have a problem with the U.S. being reliant for other countries in the coming years for transportation into space. That is relinquishing a until now dominance of space exploration. It gives up the independence of doing what we need to do when we need to do it. We are destined to "rent" a ride from countries who will have their own space agenda, funded in part by US astronauts "renting" a ride.
We will be surrendering in the short term the advantages and technologies that come from the development of space hardware and software. Not to mention being placed on the "taxi" countries time table instead of ours.
As is typical with this administration, Obama has espoused a concept of private development with no guidelines or objectives. Just let private industry sort it out. NASA was and should remain the focal point of the US continuation of space exploration. Private industries job, as it has been, is to provide hardware and software that meets projects, programs, expectations, time tables and objectives established/dictated by NASA.
Private industry space development will not have the same objectives or the same vision.
I believe this is another example of Obama's short sighted and lack of management capability by not setting the expectation just as Kennedy did when he set the direction for accomplishments in space during his day.
Once again he has articulated an anecdotal description how our mission could be accomplished by other means.....third parties....whether US private industry or other countries.
We would be handing a leadership role to countries who in the past have not been on the friendliest of terms with the US. What makes anybody think that they now can be relied upon to take care of our needs in space, for the foreseeable future?
There must be leadership....responsibility...accountability by NASA or another agency DEDICATED to the US needs and objectives in space. LEADERSHIP, RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY...traits I personally find absent in Obama's requisites to date.
Another step towards second place or less status in the world. What a  shame.
btk  |
Same old, same old. Your hatred of the President leads you, as usual, to jump to any negative conclusion you can possibly dream up.
Did you read the proposal that the 'rent-a-ride' is temporary, and likely a huge cost savings? What the heck do you know about the guidelines which are being EXPLORED for privatizing segments of the space program? How do you know they are shortsighted? Do you know more than Buzz Aldrin for example? He has endorsed every element of the President's suggestions.
It takes some guts to even suggest new directions for the largely revered space program. Naturally some NASA employees will experience job shifts or even lose their jobs to a whole new batch of bright new space geeks itching to go in the newer directions. So if you just listen to those who fear change you will miss the point of this effort and simply help support the expensive status quo. Fear of change and the unknown is not how we've arrived where we are, from Kennedy's pipe dreams to the present. Good leadership means proposing, questioning, and displaying willingness to change, and ignoring those who will do anything to twist your ideas around and try to bash you with them.
Set aside your total bias for a moment and try to look at something the administration is working on with an open mind.