US Space Program is going to take a hit

[yellowdingo]

Because of the decision to bail out the failed banking and finance sector, the future of NASA may well be in doubt. The Program will inevitably be reduced to the bare bones and the Manned Mission to the moon may be set back.
If the bailout doesnt happen and the US economy goes under, then there will be no NASA (beyond Military needs).

Any thoughts on China colonizing the Moon without the USA?

[seekerofshadowlight]

A bad thought but we got ourselves into this mess not sure how to fix it. We as a nation are real dumbasses sometimes. Very short sighted and do not look at the big picture

[Dragnmoon]

yellowdingo wrote:

Because of the decision to bail out the failed banking and finance sector, the future of NASA may well be in doubt. The Program will inevitably be reduced to the bare bones and the Manned Mission to the moon may be set back.

If the bailout doesnt happen and the US economy goes under, then there will be no NASA (beyond Military needs).

Any thoughts on China colonizing the Moon without the USA?

You have a source for this other then conjecture?

[Matthew Morris]

[snark] Well Chinese news will tell us about it before it happens [/snark]

As to the bailout business, I don't like it for a number of reasons (first and formost, I shopped, did research, and stayed away from ARMs, the government should not reward stupidity)

As to NASA, let teh private sector do it. X-plane anyone?

[Andrew Turner]

NASA has been a congressionally mandated institution since 1958, with Special Dispensation since 1976 (it must exist by US law)--it would literally take an Act of Congress to dismantle or disband NASA.

While we're quick to go-slow or push back missions and space operations, it's 90% of the time due to safety or technical concerns (technology/science not meeting requirements or progression on schedule, or safety test fails; missing launch windows, etc). When NASA literally needs more money, they ask and receive.

I'm a Space Operations (Career Field) officer, so I have some knowledge of this stuff.

I'm not remotely worried about the PRC.

[Snorter]

Andrew Turner wrote:

I'm a Space Operations (Career Field) officer, so I have some knowledge of this stuff.

Do you have ranks in Zero-G Combat?

[Renrut Werdna-Bizzaro]

Snorter wrote:

Andrew Turner wrote:

I'm a Space Operations (Career Field) officer, so I have some knowledge of this stuff.

Do you have ranks in Zero-G Combat?

That's right--he thinks he's Buck Rogers or something! He types code all day and memorizes satellite trivia! Pfffbbt!

[Mosaic]

Andrew Turner wrote:

I'm a Space Operations (Career Field) officer...

Cool! Does that mean you're a rocket scientist?

We were recently interviewing new principal candidates for my school. One of them didn't do so well in the rest of the interview but she was an ex-NASA person. We said, wouldn't it be cool start a staff meeting shouting, "Come on people, this isn't rocket science ... and I know rocket science!"

Back on topic, too bad about any NASA cuts, especially in light of the fact that China is getting ready to launch it's second manned orbital mission. Next steps? A Chinese space station? The moon? And US? :(

[Callous Jack]

Snorter wrote:

Andrew Turner wrote:

I'm a Space Operations (Career Field) officer, so I have some knowledge of this stuff.

Do you have ranks in Zero-G Combat?

Or Warp Drive Engineering?

[Leeroy Jenkins]

"All it takes is one misplaced decimal..."

I telling that to Andrew like twenty times a day!

It drives him OCD-nuts!

[David Fryer]

yellowdingo wrote:

Any thoughts on China colonizing the Moon without the USA?

Well since China is barely getting ready to make their first space walk, I would say that the chances are slim to none as far as that goes. Russia on the other hand, might be a concern since they have already been to the Moon.

[Set]

If China *does* start to do some serious space research, good for them, and if it looks like they are going to get 'ahead of us' in some way, it will only serve as the kick in the pants our national psyche could use to motivate us into restoring our own technoligical and scientific leadership (which will help to stimulate our economy as well), that's been pretty much frittered away over the last couple decades.

It would be nice to have America be at the forefront again, and have other countries clamoring to buy *our* clever new technologies, rather than continue being a net importer of goods and watching some of our brightest minds flee to more research-friendly communities, such as Asia, Europe or Australia.

[Aberzombie]

Matthew Morris wrote:

[snark] Well Chinese news will tell us about it before it happens [/snark]

I saw that article as well. For those of you who did not, the basic story is that the Chinese news agency posted a story about their latest successful launch, complete with dialogue between the ground and their astronauts, all before the actual launch took place.

[David Fryer]

Aberzombie wrote:

Matthew Morris wrote:

[snark] Well Chinese news will tell us about it before it happens [/snark]

I saw that article as well. For those of you who did not, the basic story is that the Chinese news agency posted a story about their latest successful launch, complete with dialogue between the ground and their astronauts, all before the actual launch took place.

Link please? I would love to read that.

[Set]

David Fryer wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

Matthew Morris wrote:

[snark] Well Chinese news will tell us about it before it happens [/snark]

I saw that article as well. For those of you who did not, the basic story is that the Chinese news agency posted a story about their latest successful launch, complete with dialogue between the ground and their astronauts, all before the actual launch took place.

Link please? I would love to read that.

I think this is it;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7826249

[Aberzombie]

Set wrote:

I think this is it;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7826249

Yep, that's it. Linkified

[David Fryer]

Aberzombie wrote:

Set wrote:

I think this is it;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7826249

Yep, that's it. Linkified

I love the description of it being a "technical error." Did Marty and the Professor's time machine break down on the way back to the 1980's?

[Aberzombie]

David Fryer wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

Set wrote:

I think this is it;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7826249

Yep, that's it. Linkified

I love the description of it being a "technical error." Did Marty and the Professor's time machine break down on the way back to the 1980's?

I just have to wonder if this means that the news agency is looking for a new director.

[David Fryer]

Aberzombie wrote:

I just have to wonder if this means that the news agency is looking for a new director.

Yes, and the old news director will end up "retiring" to a country estate where he will never be heard from again.

[Sebastian]

Aberzombie wrote:

Matthew Morris wrote:

[snark] Well Chinese news will tell us about it before it happens [/snark]

I saw that article as well. For those of you who did not, the basic story is that the Chinese news agency posted a story about their latest successful launch, complete with dialogue between the ground and their astronauts, all before the actual launch took place.

OMG! The Chinese have TSR's secret time machine!!! We're doomed!!!

Seriously though, talk about cheap propoganda. When the U.S. faked its moon landing, they at least had the sense to time it right.

[Andrew Turner]

It's just an excerpt of The People's Wu-Lensman's Heroic and Patriotic Journey as discovered in Wong's Lost and Found Emporium...

[yellowdingo]

Well that confirms my worst case scenario. I just caught the Debate between Obama and McCain by PBS?

McCain Presidency: Its going to take Cuts in all non-essential programs (except Defence). So if McCain has his way the next US Astronaut to land on the Moon will be carrying a Railgun.

Obama Presidency: Its going to take Reductions in the money wasting programs. That smells like a cut in NASA and a Private Sector Run Lunar Colonization. So if Obama wins the Astronaut will be an employee of the Lunar Mining Co - subcontracted to the Nation that can afford to buy the Minerals (China).