From Jeff Findley:
(Stuf4) writes:
The way I see it, following the Columbia wreck the primary factor that
saved the US space program was...

The Chinese!

You're such a troll.

I was addressing a topic under discussion. Stmx3 offered a commentary
regarding the "only thing keeping NASA going" and I responded with my
opinion as to why George Bush took only a matter of minutes to arrive
at the conclusion that the US Space Program would go on. George Bush
is a huge promoter of missile defense. In putting together the
threats to the USA of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile
capability, China comes out at the top.

With a solid understanding of why the US and USSR launched people into
orbit, it becomes obvious as to why China has chosen to invest in this
same show of strength.


There are many Americans who are calling out for tax dollars to get
dried up for NASA. There are even those who want to see NASA
terminated. But the roots of NASA have always been in national
defense. This was the case in 1957. It is still the case today in
2003. George Bush is well aware of this.


And even if no one else on this forum agrees with this fundamental
motivation for the space program, I see no need for any hostility.


~ CT