Bush may call for a return to the Moon

[remcook]

apparently, missions like TPF are also included in the "nation's vision".

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=12052

don't know it that is a good thing...it's good to have vision, but what if everything gets cancelled? will TPF etc, suffer?

[Astronuc]

Yeah, but does he [Bush] know where it is? [smiley=smiley.gif]

I just checked the spaceref link and under Milestones found

"2015-2020: First human mission to the Moon "  - Huh?  Does anybody proofread anymore, or am I missing something?  I thought we've been there already.  I suppose they missed a qualifier and mean 'of this millenium'.

Actually I have seen some of the original films (from the moon) in Houston.  It would really hard to fake that stuff.

Meanwhile keep an eye on the ISS, especially the altitude (just some comments from the inside) http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/

I would like to get back to the moon and on to Mars.  I was ready 20 years ago, when I did some studies on an NEP system to Mars.

There are some things heating up!  I'll have a better idea in about 4 months.

[remcook]

you work at NASA?

[Astronuc]

I work for a small private company, which provides engineering services to NASA and their contractors, DOE national labs and their contractors, and utilities and engineering companies in nuclear power and aerospace industries.

I have friends and colleagues who work at NASA and DOE labs, and various contractors and universities.  Basically, we are waiting to see what's happening with Project Prometheus (continuation of the Nuclear Space Initiative).  Boeing, Lockheed and Grumman are competing for top spot.

Unfortunately, it's hurry up and wait - a matter of bureaucratic inertia - a lot of which is outside of NASA.

[remcook]

budget battle starts:

http://www.space.com/news/budget_fight_040315.html

[Orstio]

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa004&articleID=0006BC20-3E44-1052-BD3483414B7F016F

[remcook]

A support campaign:

http://www.space.com/goformars/

[rcable1]

Thanks for that link remcook. I voted my support.

I think that the funding issue may improve after the elections as all of the politicans are more interested in how America votes and not what is good for America.

[remcook]

do you think it will matter who wins? (i.e. will Kerry cancel the whole thing if he wins?)

[rcable1]

I think that most of them do not do, or try to do, a lot of things they promise. What I do think is that once the election is over and they have to votes to remain or take over that this may or may not change.
Kerry may very well try to cancel it all, but I am not sure wheather or not he is bluffing.

I think that we have too much invested in Space for a total cancelation to take place and I am sure a very long debate would take place should that issue indeed arise.

I believe that most everything now is likely to be political profiling but hope not w/ Bush and his initative.

NASA has to do something to get the publics support.

[remcook]

http://www.space.com/news/commentary_vision_040429.html

[remcook]

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040510-125812-6719r
new speech coming

[remcook]

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=14237

[remcook]

some groups are preparing a "blitz" to support the new plans

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595075202,00.html

[alokmohan]

Appolo project was prestige issue of Americans and was byproduct of cold war.Now no cold war ,no moon going.