Discussing reasonable ways to colonize our solar system

Dear Space Geeks, Obama Is Right (NASA Woes)

Posted by on Jan 29, 2010 in Moon, NASA, Politics | 3 comments


After news broke out that President Obama is ending NASA’s dreams of establishing lunar bases, the reaction from the pro space community was rather “less than thrilling.”

(Lunar News Network) It’s all over. The U.S. is getting out of the manned space exploration business. The Obama Administration has decided not to fund the Constellation program. NASA will not return to the Moon and go on to Mars and beyond. The dream is dead.

(The Write Stuff) Administration officials and a former astronaut on Wednesday called President Barack Obama’s plans for NASA “exciting” and “bold”, saying that he was replacing a failed moon program with a new $6 billion project to develop commercial rockets capable of taking astronauts into orbit. [...]

But conspicuous by its absence was any mention of a commitment to develop a new government owned and operated “heavy-lift” rocket capable of taking humans beyond the low Earth Orbit.

While some see this move as killing America’s future among the heavens, this manuaver will actually force NASA to do something that they should have done from the very beginning–aggressively partner with the private sector (aka New Space).

In fact, this is actually what President Obama proposed when re-charting NASA’s course.

(New York Times) President Obama will end NASA’s return mission to the moon and turn to private companies to launch astronauts into space when he unveils his budget request to Congress next week, an administration official said Thursday.

The shift would “put NASA on a more sustainable and ambitious path to the future,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

While NASA has accomplished some extraordinary achievements during it’s life time (landing on the Moon being one of them), the price tag in doing so is not worth the extra deficits if the only result is more flag poles and foot prints.

If humanity is to ever conquer the final frontier, then they need to learn how to not only live off world, but thrive there too–both literally and fiscally.

Giving New Space the American reigns may not bring comfort to many people (as the chance of failure is potentially large).

But to simply fund NASA attempts at making space accessable to all (while skyrocketing the costs) and expecting different results is–whether you like it or not–the definition of insanity.

– Posted from my iPhone

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  • Lollian

    I agree that the major benefit that is to be reaped from this is a new focus on private industry — and space promoters are unwise to ignore this potential. However, one should also recognize that Obama's plan effectively leaves NASA without a major goal. If NASA returns its focus to unmanned scientific research, there will no doubt be great gains — but the public's interest will wane, and the space program would face another lapse like it did in the 80s. Though I am 110% in support of the privatization of LEO ventures, I think NASA must continue to lead the way in more far-reaching manned exploration, at least for the moment.

    • http://www.colonyworlds.com Darnell

      Hey Lollian,

      Personally I think it would be even better if NASA helped "pave the way" by building the first habitats for companies to rent out on the Moon.

      But it may be difficult for NASA to do that and fund the private sector's efforts to replace ARES.

      Either way giving the Private Sector more control is still a great decision, one of the few issues where Obama and I agree upon.

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  • JohnHunt

    I feel like there is a lot of agreement that we need to let New Space have the chance of opening up LEO for supply and manned transport. But I agree with the others that Obama is inappropriately abandoning the second part (development of the Moon).

    HERE'S THE POINT — Returning to the Moon won't be about doing what we did 50 years ago (boot prints and flags). It's about DEVELOPMENT. That's huge and shouldn't be overlooked. Development means all sorts of supplies to LEO, opening up a new market, and eventually fuel to access the rest of the solar system. Most importantly, development of the Moon means a second home for humanity in case we destroy Earth with our own self-replicating technology. LEO can't be that home because it has no resources. Mars is just further out, rarely close, more dangerous travel, and more difficult to develop via telerobotics.

    Let's return to the Moon one way or another!