Re: Kerry criticizes Bush's space vision

From: Paul (none_at_none.com)
Date: 06/16/04 

Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 16:39:53 -0400

As far as I’m concerned, Kerry is looking at low-earth orbital missions and
micro-gravity experiments and nothing more, nothing about long-duration
lunar and martian MANNED explorations. What kind of policy is that? We’ve
been stuck in LEO since 1973. Seems like he prefers robotic exploration of
the solar system and the heck with manned exploration. I find that the
democrats are no longer dreamers when it comes to space exploration, unlike
JFK. At least George Bush is dreaming about the long-term exploration of
space where man and not machines will be doing the exploring. If it means
possibly scrapping HST (I hope it doesn’t come to that) and other projects
to achieve those goals, so be it. And here again, are the democrats
spouting how expensive it will cost, etc. etc. etc. and how unrealistic it
is. The same thing was said back in the early ’60s with Apollo and it was
achieved 8 years after JFK proposed it. George Bush is looking ahead by
15-20 years.

Does Kerry say if he’s going to increase NASA’s budget if he becomes
President (god forbid)? Of course not. He gives some convoluted response
about how the taxpayers will get more bang to the dollar when it comes to
space exploration and what the budget situation is, etc. etc. etc.

As for development of a low-cost space transportation system during the
1990’s. Why didn’t Clinton do something about it? Everytime something was
proposed, it was judged too expensive to continue.

And finally, if Kerry is critical of Bush’s space policy, why is it that
virtually all the major space advocacy groups in the US have endorsed the
plan? If I believe correctly, even Neil Armstrong and some of the other
moon walkers have endorsed the plan as well. John Glenn on the other hand
has criticized the plan, but then, he too is a democrat.

Paul

Relevant Pages

  • Bush: the space president?
    ... Differences in space policy may not swing many voters, ... The bold alternative of exploration is almost an afterthought ... Instead, Mr. Kerry ... would return the manned space program to spinning in circles, ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Kerry criticizes Bushs space vision
    ... The idea behind the exploration policy is to have a long term goal. ... We need a vehicle to replace the shuttle; ... shuttle will never be cheap or as safe as possible for long term use. ... I think Kerry is just saying anything that is the opposite of Bush and ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Moon, Mars, and money
    ... doesn't carry a "funding wedge" to move on to Mars. ... Exploration Systems Architecture Study that produced the NASA plan, ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Lunar Architecture Poll
    ... official plan to restructure human space exploration. ... Since when has private business blazed exploration trails ... and taken high risks? ...
    (sci.space.policy)