POLL: Is Abandoning NASA's Moon Plan the Right Choice?

[rockett]

Stopping the maned space program with the idea that new technology can be developed ONLY by doing so makes no sense. We have not stopped selling cars until better technology can be developed, the same should idea should apply to the space program. Reinstate the Moon and Mars programs AND develop new technologies at the same time. Keep our country a leader in space, do not retreat while other countries continue to pursue maned space flight. To little is known about the proposed space engines to know if the can even be developed for use within 10 years. Do we as a country want to sit back and let space leadership go to another country? I say keep scientific discoveries in space as a part of our nations goals.

Welcome to the Space.com community.

You will find many posters here who agree with you. You will also find a number of threads where this subject is being debated.

List of Multiple Threads on the Same Topic
http://www.space.com/common/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=22426

I personally happen to agree with you. Pursuing the current direction is effectively ceding our national position in space exploration.

 

[vulture4]

We have not stopped selling cars until better technology can be developed,

We did not begin selling cars until Henry Ford developed new technology that made them practical in cost.

 

[EarthlingX]

We have not stopped selling cars until better technology can be developed,

We did not begin selling cars until Henry Ford developed new technology that made them practical in cost.

What he is most famous for is assembly line, which lowered costs, and made cars accessible to ordinary mortals.

He changed car making from craftsmanship to mass production.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ford

Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was the American founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of modern assembly lines used in mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry.