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Pastimes : Should U.S. attempt manned missions to the Moon?
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To: Edscharp who wrote (3)1/10/2004 2:11:05 PM
From: Fangorn  Read Replies (1) of 41
 
Ed,

re >I'm a big supporter of NASA and I think the idea of the international space station is
terrific.<

The ISS is a poorly planned, barely functional, badly placed (in a high latitude orbit when an equatorial orbit would be easier to reach and more scientifically productive for the simple reason that Russia can't easily reach an equatorial orbit from their launch site) colossal waste of money that is already years behind schedule. Of course, you said "I think the idea of the international space station is terrific" so maybe you agree with some of my criticisms of the actual station. The shuttle is like a luxury Winnabago with all the latest doodads when what is needed is the equivalent of a flat bed one ton truck. Both shuttle and station are technological dead-ends that lead nowhere beyond LEO. Talk about "been there done that" but that is what one should expect from a couple projects designed by and for pork-barrelling politicians.

re >The fact is that the U.S. is still contending with the aftershocks of 911. Spending for
the defense of the Homeland defense is significant. The budget is not currently
balanced, and we are currently supporting troops in the field in Iraq & Afghanistan.
There are other potential problems on the horizon such as Iran, North Korea & el
Qaeda.<

Has there ever been a time in American history when such a list of problems couldn't be compiled? Do you wish that Jefferson had listened to those with similar concerns when he was considering the Louisiana Purchase? Kennedy when he originally proposed to go to the Moon?
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