F
frodo1008
Guest
It may come as a surprise to some on these boards that I who have in the past defended the manned portion of NASA would even consider starting such a thread! However, as I have stated in many other posts, just because I defend the manned portion DOESN'T mean that I am willing to see the robotic and other science programs at NASA gutted just to pay for the manned program part of NASA!!<br /><br />To this poster at least, BOTH sections of NASA are absolutely necessary for the furtherance of humanities efforts in space. These programs are NOT competitive, they are complimentary! The knowledge obtained by our robotic partners in this great effort IS essential to further both the manned exploration and eventual exploitation of the solar system and eventually beyond into interstellar space!! <br /><br />I don't even begin to understand how President Bush can say that he supports a renaissance of American science to inspire our young people to enter science fields in this country and then NOT back up his speech with the necessary funds for these programs!! Do we not "Walk the talk!", or do we?? No, I am no turning this into a typical anti Bush free space thread by stating this. However, the budget proposal of the current administration IS the responsibility of the current administration, whether others on these boards like it or not. Neither am I against the increases in military spending (although I do have doubt of our involvement in certain areas), but to give a 7% increase to the military, (above inflation) which comes to MORE funding than NASA's ENTIRE budget just in the increase, is not justifiable in comparison to the paltry 1% (above inflation) increase to NASA's current budget!<br /><br />NASA can't do all of the things that the current administration and congress have asked it to do in the time frame that NASA has been given to do these things without at least a 10% increase (again, above inflation)!! It isn't just difficult it is IMPOSSIBLE!!<br /><br />To me a