USA scraps its space program

[duncanmac]

While I suspected that something like this might happen, given the current economic mess (which has been referred to as the Second Depression by some), it still is sad to see it happen. At the beginning of February, US President Obama came out with the US government’s proposed budget for 2011 - and cancelled NASA’s Constellation space program

Comments

[dewline]

I don't know quite what to feel at this point. I've seen news items at spaceref.ca in recent months that point to a smell of opportunity for Canada in this particular crisis in human space exploration and commerce. The general feeling I got from those articles seems to be that there's now a gap that we can find a way to fill. Barring the complications of the ITAR rules, of course...

[duncanmac]

Yes, I found it:

I think this song is too cynical. Why should it matter that "nobody else cares?" Yes, there are good things here on Earth. I also, contrary to popular current beliefs, agree that humans are naturally gregarious and true loners are quite rare. But "quite rare" does not mean non-existant.

My feelings are better expressed by the following:

[dewline]

I'll likely never ride on one of the ships to come myself...but that closing couplet sings for me as well.

Nobody kills the dreams I have for my nieces and nephews.

By way of clarification:

[dewline]

http://spaceref.ca/this-week-in-space-for-canada/this-week-in-space-for-canada.html#more

And for the pro-cancellation side(which I expect you may already have read more than your fill at this point)...

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1377

Re: By way of clarification:

[duncanmac]

While much of this *is* good news, my real concern is not the attitude of the US Executive or Administration; they are recognizing that NASA needs to start over and find better solutions than what Constellation proposed.

The biggest worry I have is with the US Congress and Canada's Parliament. Both bodies have to cope with enormous debts and deficits left over from all the bailouts passed in 2008. With other sources of revenue drying up (for example, the gas tax fund for the US Interstates no longer covers maintenance costs for same any more, according to Trains magazine for January 2010) there will be pressure to cut expenditure wherever possible. Changes like this may leave NASA rather vulnerable.

Re: By way of clarification:

[duncanmac]

See my reply to lemmozine above for more of how I feel about this.

[fajrdrako]

Fashions come and go, and I'm sorry to see that the impetus to explore has faded from the scene. I don't think it's gone forever. I think the space programme will happen again - when people feel incentive. (I wonder what incentive that would be?)

[duncanmac]

While I largely agree, I fear that North Americans of this (or any) generation may not live to see it. What happenedto Britain's space program from the 1950s?

Où sont les neiges d'antan?

Assuming the question's not rhetorical?

[dewline]

Not entirely sure, although my UK acquaintances would likely suspect "fiscal responsibility" would be cited.

[fajrdrako]

We live in a world where politics and economics rule, and governments are afraid to do anything that all. That can chance on the turn of an election. We live in a world where if the people want to do something, the politicians will be eager for it, to win votes.

Will it happen? It might - if attitudes change. Right now most people seem to be paranoid and fearful, clinging to what they have rather than risking new horizons. But that too can change.

[duncanmac]

humankind as a parasitic infliction on the universe

Sorry, but I hink that is too cynical. Besides, this description implies a comparison ... usually to an alien intelligent species. With the possible exception of the dolphins, any such are simply unknown. We haven't even resolved the question of whether any such alien species exists -- which is the issue dealt with by the Fermi Paradox.