POLL: What Should Obama Have NASA Do?

[Tomorian]

I voted for Mars Direct.

Since NASA has not traveled outside of Earth's orbit in a drastic manner, I think the whole space program should be closed down. If we are not committed as a nation to invest in NASA heavily, why bother having a space program that does not explore. Its a waste of time if no one cares enough to fund our missions.

 

[netdragon]

Ummm... Where are all the other options on http://www.space.com/news/090805-human- ... tions.html ? It infuriates me when people don't think before making surveys. Obviously, the results will be pointlessly skewed. :evil:

I am debating whether I should vote at all, or if I should choose the closest one. I really don't give a hoot about Mars. I am all for deep space missions, including manned and also high speed solar sail probes. I also think we should spend more money on faster-than-light (e.g. warp bubble) and advanced propulsion research. However, Mars is the closest thing (or maybe the moon) because what I want requires an increase in spending.

In fact, I think we should begin cutting down on military spending and start increasing NASA's budget.

 

[rhapsodyinspace2]

What I would personally like to see Obama have NASA do!

1) Go with the DIRECT program.

2) Keep the shuttles going until their replacements have been flying at least a year! (yes I would overlap them then phase them out slowly)

I would have all three of the shuttles in space and docked to the I.S.S. and set a new record for people in space at one time. (about 27 people I believe!) I would give the Space Shuttles a dignified exit from space! Not only would that be what they deserve but would show NASA in a positive and productive light and would be great Press for NASA.(Hell, We haven’t even had 2 shuttles in space at the same time!…What’s with that?)
Then I would mothball 2 of the shuttles and refurbish the third!

The Space Shuttles should not be in a museum until a new Space Shuttle is put into service. (we wouldn’t mothball an aircraft carrier unless we had a replacement would we? Maybe it would not fly often but there is a valuable use for the shuttle.

3) Mandate that NASA as an organization needs to be space bound itself. Putting as a priority the necessary engineers and etc. into space so they can do their magic in the vacuum of space..…(I do not think car designers design their cars underwater or from long distances? (lol)) …So why not put them in space, it would probably help with the designing phases and cut costs and get missions done quicker!
4) Challenge NASA to be self sufficient! (Like the Post Office….errr.. Only smarter!)

5) Stand up and tell NASA it is OK to mine materials and make money for the U.S.A…..If you find gold, help fix our economy! (lol)

6) Challenge NASA as a goal to have 1,000,000 people population in orbit as a goal by 2063! (Take me! Take me!)

7) Take volunteers now for long term one way missions to the moon or mars immediately! People are an amazing resource and people are mature enough to decide if they would go on long term missions!(oh…oh…Take me! Take ME!)

8) Let the people donate to NASA, and if it’s a high donation rate then you kick up the budget big time….Not take funding away!

9) I would challenge NASA to never shut down a program again like they did with the Space Shuttle tragedies. Keep everyone going up into space informed, be reasonable, do the right thing and get back to business!

Take volunteers, educate them on the risks and continue!

10) Unmanned missions should continue! Have a goal of at least 4 satellites in orbit of each of our solar systems planets. And several on the planets themselves.(Ok not on Jupiter or Neptune…So do not start ragging on me! Lol )

11) A working and well practiced approach to dealing with killer asteroids! An extensive network of satellites solar system wide to give us much needed warning, And possibly giving us time to mine the incoming object for raw materials!
12) Send a craft towards the nearest star! A creative and innovative craft more art then practical…..(Send out our best welcome to the neighborhood gift!) A sleek and powerful hello to our possible neighbors!

Ok…that’s about all I can think of at this minute! Lol

Hey, Did I mention, take me! Take me NOW!!!!!! Lol

 

[webtaz99]

Mars Direct. Let's go!

Then we can calm down and do things right for a change.

 

[DatSpaceMan]

Forget that waste of president, he won't listen to us...I say get a new good Pres. and then fund more to NASA and have manned mission to Mars as soon as possible and yeah...Moon can have a trip too in 2020.

 

[liveccam]

We're seeing the same mistakes with retiring the Shuttle that were made when Apollo-Saturn was retired 35 years ago. Throwing away a good and reliable system and spending new money on a costly unproven system is deja vu all over again for NASA. The Shuttle system is a highly unique and proven system that can continue to benefit us well into the future. With continuing improvements and upgrades it can become even more capable and safer as well. Orion is a dead end to the past. It's a spam in a can capsule based system akin to what NASA chose 50 years ago as the fastest and cheapest way to put a man in space. And unique to Orion is that as its development progressed its capabilities decreased. So far its gone from a 6 person to a 4 person capsule and earth landing capability has been deleted. If we proceed with Orion we'll be landing with parachutes in an ocean rather than coming down on a runway. If we're really interested in a capsule based system private industry has already provided that for us. The Space X Falcon/Dragon concept will likely provide a better and cheaper alternative to what NASA has been planning with Orion. Our goals in space have to be reexamined as well. Going back to the moon with people and on to Mars doesn't really have much of a purpose. We've already learned much about both places and adding humans to the mix won't help us to learn much more. Lets be honest with ourselves. We're never moving to Mars. We have a planet here and if we want to exist in the future we'll need to take care of it. End of story. Lets keep and upgrade the shuttle and utilize Falcon/Dragon and other appropriate commercial technology where appropriate.

 

[kelvinzero]

I chose 3, but what really interests me is permanence vs sorties. I would prefer to see a purely robotic lunar infrastructure growing larger with every mission than a scaled up Apollo followed by another 40 year hiatus.

 

[2001Kubrick]

I say go with Buzz's plan: Help other countries like China and Russia get to the moon with minimal cost; meanwhile work on getting a manned USA mission to Mars with by 2025. Obama won't do this though because he'd rather give our money to his cronies through another stimulus package.