Bush may announce return to the moon

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/beyondleo-03a.html

Why not Mars? I guess that the U.S. is figuring it has to get there before
the Chinese claim it!! Anyway, since it has already been done before the
chances of success should be very high.

On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 10:29:57 +0100, "Dr. O" dr.o@xxxxx wrote:

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/beyondleo-03a.html

Why not Mars? I guess that the U.S. is figuring it has to get there before
the Chinese claim it!! Anyway, since it has already been done before the
chances of success should be very high.

Isn't it amazing what a little bit of competition can do to the
American administration psychic after decades of stagmentation.
Wheather it'll turn out as hollow as his fathers space proclamation we
will just have to wait and see what happens.



Christopher
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Kites rise highest against
the wind - not with it."
Winston Churchill

"Christopher" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 10:29:57 +0100, "Dr. O" dr.o@xxxxx wrote:

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/beyondleo-03a.html

Why not Mars? I guess that the U.S. is figuring it has to get there
before
the Chinese claim it!! Anyway, since it has already been done before the
chances of success should be very high.

Isn't it amazing what a little bit of competition can do to the
American administration psychic after decades of stagmentation.
Wheather it'll turn out as hollow as his fathers space proclamation we
will just have to wait and see what happens.

Yes, I believe the Chinese aim for the moon certainly has something to do
with it (although both the White House and NASA will flatly deny this).
However, as the article points out, they will have to do it on the current
budget as there will not be a massive 2% GDP spending on a manned lunar
landing (that would be about $300billion in today's money) as they did in
the 60's. The result may well be that NASA will conclude that it's not
possible and besides, they will have to scrap the Shuttle and ISS. That
won't help any future international space collaboration because the
Europeans and Russians are left to pick up the bill or will simply abandon
it. My guess is that the Russians will claim ISS and turn it into a tourist
attraction for the rich-and-famous.

In article ,
"Dr. O" dr.o@xxxxx wrote:

My guess is that the Russians will claim ISS and turn it into a tourist
attraction for the rich-and-famous.

I doubt that will happen, though it'd certainly be cool if they did.
(How ironic that the country that was once the leader in communism would
now be far ahead of us in capitalism, at least in space!)

,------------------------------------------------------------------.
| Joseph J. Strout Check out the Mac Web Directory: |
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Joe Strout wrote:
: In article ,
: "Dr. O" dr.o@xxxxx wrote:

: My guess is that the Russians will claim ISS and turn it into a tourist
: attraction for the rich-and-famous.

: I doubt that will happen, though it'd certainly be cool if they did.
: (How ironic that the country that was once the leader in communism would

Todays paper carries a story in which top NASA officials state taht
the "first priority" of NASA is the orbital space plane and that until that
project gets finished, there is "little point" in other ambitious projects.

regards,
------------------------------------------------------

On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 12:50:14 GMT, (Christopher)
wrote:

Isn't it amazing what a little bit of competition can do to the
American administration psychic

Competition is probably a part of it. Another is that the US is fast
approaching the time when a new space goal after the Space Station
will be needed. A third is that there was a persistent recommendation
by both politicians and op-ed pieces that NASA needed a clear goal in
the wake of the Columbia disaster.

Leadership comes from the top. It's good to see a President being a
leader for a change.

Brian

In article ,
"Dr. O" dr.o@xxxxx wrote:

"Christopher" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 10:29:57 +0100, "Dr. O" dr.o@xxxxx wrote:

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/beyondleo-03a.html

Why not Mars? I guess that the U.S. is figuring it has to get there
before
the Chinese claim it!! Anyway, since it has already been done before the
chances of success should be very high.

Isn't it amazing what a little bit of competition can do to the
American administration psychic after decades of stagmentation.
Wheather it'll turn out as hollow as his fathers space proclamation we
will just have to wait and see what happens.

Yes, I believe the Chinese aim for the moon certainly has something to do
with it (although both the White House and NASA will flatly deny this).

What's your evidence for this?

--
Stephen Souter

http://www.edfac.usyd.edu.au/staff/souters/

In article ,
Joe Strout wrote:

In article ,
"Dr. O" dr.o@xxxxx wrote:

My guess is that the Russians will claim ISS and turn it into a tourist
attraction for the rich-and-famous.

I doubt that will happen, though it'd certainly be cool if they did.
(How ironic that the country that was once the leader in communism would
now be far ahead of us in capitalism, at least in space!)

Since when would an act of piracy advance the cause of capitalism, least
of all in space?

--
Stephen Souter

http://www.edfac.usyd.edu.au/staff/souters/

"Stephen Souter" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Dr. O" dr.o@xxxxx wrote:

"Christopher" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 10:29:57 +0100, "Dr. O" dr.o@xxxxx wrote:

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/beyondleo-03a.html

Why not Mars? I guess that the U.S. is figuring it has to get there
before
the Chinese claim it!! Anyway, since it has already been done before
the
chances of success should be very high.

Isn't it amazing what a little bit of competition can do to the
American administration psychic after decades of stagmentation.
Wheather it'll turn out as hollow as his fathers space proclamation we
will just have to wait and see what happens.

Yes, I believe the Chinese aim for the moon certainly has something to
do
with it (although both the White House and NASA will flatly deny this).

What's your evidence for this?

Exhibit a) the Chinese have been openly discussing plans for a manned lunar
base for some time now
Exhibit b) the Chinese have demonstrated manned space capabillity and
development of a rocket which will enable moon missions (flyby at the very
least)
Exhibit c) the U.S., Russia and Europe have previously expressed long-term
plans to go to Mars.
Exhibit d) the U.S. is suddenly focusing on the moon again even though all
previous efforts were directly or indirectly pointing for a manned mission
to Mars (i.e. research on weightlessness, research projects, engine designs
such as nuclear propulsion).

My conclusion is that the Chinese have ignited a new space race!!!!

"Brian Thorn" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 12:50:14 GMT, (Christopher)
wrote:

Isn't it amazing what a little bit of competition can do to the
American administration psychic

Competition is probably a part of it. Another is that the US is fast
approaching the time when a new space goal after the Space Station
will be needed. A third is that there was a persistent recommendation
by both politicians and op-ed pieces that NASA needed a clear goal in
the wake of the Columbia disaster.

Leadership comes from the top. It's good to see a President being a
leader for a change.


Pfff. If he doesn't give NASA the money to execute his orders nothing much
is going to happen at best. In the worse case many more astronauts are going
to get killed.

I wouldn't even be surprised if NASA is quietly given a 'if you can't beat
them, join them' order to team up with the Chinese. This will allow the U.S.
at least to share the spotlight with the Chinese whilst not having to fund a
massive NASA budget increase.