MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 WASHINGTON - President Bush is preparing to unveil a new space initiative with a long-range goal of returning humans to the moon and establishing a permanent presence there, NBC News confirmed Thursday. Government officials said there were still final details that the president had yet to sign off on, but that the announcement was likely to come next week. White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters traveling with the president Thursday that Bush would have more to say about the space program next week. Speculation within the U.S. space community about a major White House policy announcement has been swirling for months, with some speculating that Bush would say something when he spoke at the Wright Brothers centennial in Kitty Hawk. But the president stayed mum on the subject, despite prodding from actor John Travolta, who urged him at the event to commit to such an idea and even volunteered to go on the first mission. The U.S. space program is still struggling to recover nearly a year after the shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entry but has been greatly buoyed by Saturday's successful landing of the Spirit rover on Mars and the stunning pictures it has since beamed back. Congressional sources told Reuters that the administration was also considering setting up a more streamlined hierarchy for guiding the government's wide-ranging space programs and coordinating its research and development. Under this scenario, there could be more exchanges of technology between NASA and the Defense Department. Some members of Congress have said they want to ensure that the United States remains the global leader in space exploration. "If we don't do it, somebody else will," said U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon of Tennessee, a ranking Democrat on the House Science Committee. "The Chinese, the Europeans and the Japanese all have the goal of going to the moon. Certainly we don't want to wake up and see that they have a base there before we do." New technologies and energy sources The new space plan was spearheaded in large part by NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe, Reuters reported. O'Keefe was appointed by Bush to restore credibility to an agency plagued by budget troubles, including billions of dollars in cost overruns at the space station. Vice President Dick Cheney also was involved in the policy development, along with other senior Bush advisers. The administration was said to see the initiative as an important national security measure, and experts said it could lead to new technologies and potential new sources of energy. UPI quoted administration sources as saying the current plan called for an $800 million boost in space spending for fiscal year 2005, with most of that money going to develop new robotic space vehicles and new human exploration systems. NASA's current budget is about $15.5 billion. The space budget would be increased in stages for at least the next five years, looking toward the first manned lunar landing of the 21st century in 2013, UPI reported. The lunar effort would set the stage for missions to Mars, White House sources were quoted as saying. Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush, had proposed a mission to Mars that was scuttled because of concerns over its high cost. The younger Bush likewise faces budgetary constraints, including a budget deficit expected to top $500 billion this year alone. An ambitious space proposal would likely to face challenges from fiscal conservatives and Democrats who want him to focus on domestic issues like education and health care. While some advocates of sending a human mission to Mars have been critical of a new focus on the moon, others see a permanent presence there as a necessary precursor. "We should go to the moon and set up a research base there. That then will provide the opportunities to develop technologies and systems that will allow us to have human space expeditions to the moon or Mars or other places later," Gordon said. Looking ahead to Mars Experts said the goal should be to set up a research base on the moon to test technologies that would be useful on a mission to Mars. "The idea is to go to Mars. And the way you get to Mars is you go to the moon, and you practice three days from home. It's the equivalent of climbing Mount Rainier and preparing for Mount Everest," Howard McCurdy, a space-policy expert at American University in Washington, told Reuters. NASA astronaut Mike Foale, one of the two men now orbiting Earth aboard the international space station, also recently compared space exploration to mountain climbing. "You have to form a base camp, where you have to put all your resources there. Then you work from that base camp further out to get to the peak. ... I think the moon should be a great base camp to go onto Mars," Foale said. This report includes information from NBC News, Reuters and Space.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3910698/ It's about damn time we get on with this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 I'd love to see Man at least Walk on the Moon in my lifetime. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 Woohoo, I'm all for this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 Dear President Bush, You sold yourself as a conservative. STOP SPENDING. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 "President Bush is preparing to unveil a new space initiative with a long-range goal of returning humans to the moon and establishing a permanent presence there" Who exactly are the humans afraid is trying to move in on their terf? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 Commies. Oh, wait... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 Member of the AXIS of SPACE EVIL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 Oh my, is that a WMD he's standing on? I don't know what they look like since I haven't seen one on TV yet... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 He's hiding his WMD's in Melmac. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swift Terror 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 Alright, when we get to Mars, let's finally get in contact with the civilization currently residing in Cydonia for Pete's sake. In a related story, Richard C. Hoagland, who believes there are remnants of ancient civivlizations on Mars and the Moon, has now claimed that the Mars rover has photographed metal objects and machinery on Mars... http://www.enterprisemission.com/spirit.htm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 See, this is what happens when Bush stays up late waiting for his cartoons to come on and catches an episode of "The Honeymooners" Someone should tell him a punch to the jaw won't get us there before he tries to send the CIA after that "Mork" fellow. Stupid mouse..anyway, to be serious on the subject. It seems that establishing home bases on the Moon has been on every president's decision plan but I'm highly unsure of this. NASA has the success rate of a blind field goal kicker so it seems like this is highly risky to say the least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest SP-1 Report post Posted January 9, 2004 Alright, when we get to Mars, let's finally get in contact with the civilization currently residing in Cydonia for Pete's sake. In a related story, Richard C. Hoagland, who believes there are remnants of ancient civivlizations on Mars and the Moon, has now claimed that the Mars rover has photographed metal objects and machinery on Mars... http://www.enterprisemission.com/spirit.htm Heh, that's funny. He can't tell metal from rocks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted January 9, 2004 "The Chinese, the Europeans and the Japanese all have the goal of going to the moon. Certainly we don't want to wake up and see that they have a base there before we do." Mr. President, we must not allowwwwwwww, a MOON BASE gap!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheZsaszHorsemen Report post Posted January 9, 2004 I think Bush likes deficits. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob E Dangerously 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 A man on Mars! hey.. why not. It's not like our money couldn't be spent on problems on this planet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest netslob Report post Posted January 10, 2004 The moon? nice place...no atmosphere... (*Buh-Dum-Bump*) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snuffbox 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 America is awesome...we have so much spare money and so few problems that our president can focus on the moon and mars! We all have healthcare, enough money to feed our familes, safe transportation, clean water/air, a safe and peaceful relationship with the world, a steady economy, and jobs to spare. Might as well send a few dudes to Mars now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 A man on Mars! hey.. why not. It's not like our money couldn't be spent on problems on this planet. Like drilling for oil, and forcing old people and children too eat dog food. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 I liked this scientist who was on a while ago talking about why we need a base on the moon. He said, with a straight face, that it would be good for national security. Uh huh. Im still trying to figure that out. Maybe someone can explain that to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted January 10, 2004 But the president stayed mum on the subject, despite prodding from actor John Travolta, who urged him at the event to commit to such an idea and even volunteered to go on the first mission. I hate this planet. hey maybe I should go to the moon. Keep it safe from those bastard Chinamen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted January 10, 2004 A man on Mars! hey.. why not. It's not like our money couldn't be spent on problems on this planet. You know what's ironic? The more the government interferes in areas, the WORSE things get? Do ANY two areas of the U.S have MORE inflation than medicine and college tuition? I mean, we have, what, 3% inflation? Those two usually double (or MUCH worse) that. Why? Because the government got involved. Dentistry hasn't flown the roof in terms of price, unlike, say, regular physician services. Any guesses as to why? -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted January 10, 2004 A man on Mars! hey.. why not. It's not like our money couldn't be spent on problems on this planet. You know what's ironic? The more the government interferes in areas, the WORSE things get? Do ANY two areas of the U.S have MORE inflation than medicine and college tuition? I mean, we have, what, 3% inflation? Those two usually double (or MUCH worse) that. Why? Because the government got involved. Dentistry hasn't flown the roof in terms of price, unlike, say, regular physician services. Any guesses as to why? -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snuffbox 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 Mike, are you trying to say that the Republican Party is still the faction of 'small government'? It seems as though theyre just as huge and wasteful as the left, I dont see our deficit going down so far under the current Republican prez/house/senate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted January 10, 2004 Mike, are you trying to say that the Republican Party is still the faction of 'small government'? It seems as though theyre just as huge and wasteful as the left, I dont see our deficit going down so far under the current Republican prez/house/senate. Nope. Bush has been horrible with financial restraint and needs to, once in a while, veto a ridiculous bill (and there have been more than a few). However, the only thing that can make our current problems WORSE would be to involve the government in them. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 (edited) *Snip*Do ANY two areas of the U.S have MORE inflation than medicine Why? *snip* It's called sky rocketing malpractice insurance. Edited January 10, 2004 by MrRant Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob E Dangerously 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 The more the government interferes in areas, the WORSE things get? Hopefully that's not gonna harm the airport fingerprinting, the effort to land people on Mars and the new border registration to work dealies. I'm just saying the idea of landing people on Mars in times like this is just asinine. I read one commentary mentioning the idea of private spaceflight instead of government-funded spaceflight. No idea where I found it, but it was on a more conservative site. Now, wouldn't a desired financial restraint not come with the idea of sending people out into space again? because, last I checked, that's pretty expensive. But, I guess it's better to send people out to golf on Mars than to do anything in this country. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snuffbox 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 Mike, are you trying to say that the Republican Party is still the faction of 'small government'? It seems as though theyre just as huge and wasteful as the left, I dont see our deficit going down so far under the current Republican prez/house/senate. Nope. Bush has been horrible with financial restraint and needs to, once in a while, veto a ridiculous bill (and there have been more than a few). However, the only thing that can make our current problems WORSE would be to involve the government in them. -=Mike i agree with you on that one Mike me = libertarian and i know that your conservative/Republican, correct? its good to see that you realize that this current leadership is just as 'big-gov' as any other. guys like sean hannity just seem to think that the roight can do no wrong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hogan Made Wrestling 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 It would be interesting if they could establish an observatory on the Moon. A Keck-sized telescope in a zero atmosphere environment could make the Hubble look obsolete. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Justice 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2004 Dear President Bush, You sold yourself as a conservative. STOP SPENDING. Hey Jobber, you'd better c/p that and send it to your state legislature some time soon . Edit: The spending part, that is. And thus the point of this post is lost... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2004 Um... as cool as it would be to have man on the moon and Mars... HOW THE FRELL DO WE PAY FOR THIS WITHOUT MAKING OUR GIGANTOR DEFECIT EVEN WORSE!?!?!? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
