Comments on: Great Question

By: Mike Long

Mike Long — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:05:50 +0000

I think some people might be missing the point behind the existence of NASA… which is the same point behind the existence of it’s predecessor, NACA… basic science. Now that orbital space is well within the confines of smart people in private industry, NASA should be.. and might possibly be, after a little jogging, pursuing science that does not necessarily produce commercial or national value…. no way to know if you can create methane on Mars without going there and trying, is there?

Do you think Lockheed or even Elon Musk are willing to try?

By: Mike Lorrey

Mike Lorrey — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:02:20 +0000

I advocate NASA put the money into a prize program for private industry to build earth to LEO, orbital, lunar, interplanetary infrastructure with in addition to prize money give recurring contracts to maintain the infrastructure for NASA exploration initiatives, i.e. generating in situ water, LOX, LH2, methane, aluminum, iron, and silicon resources for life support and fuel needs.
In keeping with this I submitted to NASA the other day a proposal for a prize program for ISRU water depot units to deploy to the lunar surface prior to the return of humans to the moon.

By: Pete

Pete — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 07:43:55 +0000

Does NASA provide justifiable prestige value for money?

By: Spacexula

Spacexula — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:21:35 +0000

Hey Jon, thanks for giving me credit for the question! [bending legs of Xombie XA-0.1B voodoo doll]

By: Roderick Reilly

Roderick Reilly — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:59:04 +0000

I like Mike’s sarcasm, but I’ll take a stab at being slightly more serious:

It depends on how the money would be spent.

I would be prefer: 1) an expanded COTS program, and 2) ambitious new propulsion testing and development.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but 30% amounts to at least $5 billion more for NASA. Split that 45-10-45 between COTS, X-prize money, and advanced propulsion R&D.

By: mike shupp

mike shupp — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:45:10 +0000

Yup, NASA ought to go, because of that pesky budget deficit.

Also, we’d save a bunch of money by closing down Guantanamo Bay and releasing the prisoners there, by pulling troops out of Iraq and Afghanistian, and accepting many many more immigrants who would like to become tax-paying US citizens. These actions might even boost US prestige in places where it now stands poorly.

Let’s go for it, fellow!