Re-arranging deck chairs

[docm]

From nasawatch.com<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Goodbye VSE - Hello USSEP<br /><br />From: advanced-capabilities-bounces@lists.hq.nasa.gov<br />Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 10:49 AM<br />To: advanced-capabilities@hq.nasa.gov<br />Subject: [advanced-capabilities] New title for VSE<br /><br />New Policy:<br /><br />The Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) title has been changed to the<br /><br />"U.S. Space Exploration Policy"<br /><br />Please take note of the new title and refrain from using VSE in letters, presentations, etc.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[halman]

docm,<br /><br />Well, that makes sense, in a way, as a 'vision' is a concept, an idea, whereas 'policy' is an established set of principles, guidelines to govern our actions.<br /><br />I way have a 'vision' of achieving something, but to do so will require a 'policy' to guide my actions. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[j05h]

That doesn't make sense. President Bush is the origin of the VSE phrase and his science adviser presented the idea. I wouldn't think that NASA could rename the VSE - more likely they would rename the ESAS to something else. <br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[thereiwas]

I don't think Bush is capable of being the origin of anything like that. Somebody else came up with the whole idea.

 

[spacester]

I agree with the premise of the thread title. But I'd like to review a bit first. I wonder if anyone else saw what I did.<br /><br /><font color="yellow">I don't think Bush is capable of being the origin of anything like that. Somebody else came up with the whole idea.</font><br /><br />Agreed. <br /><br />I predicted the emergence of VSE, 'twas the easiest political prediction ever. <br /><br />The salient fact was that pres dubya, after having succeeded in getting the war he wanted, became informed that there was a serious deficit in his administration. He came to realize that if he wanted a legacy independent of bloodshed, and more favorable than his daddy's, he needed to present something with vision. <br /><br />Well, the man has no vision himself IMO - none of his clan do, no vision greater than self-aggrandizement at any rate - so he needed to manufacture one.<br /><br />The prediction was easy because I knew that aspect of his personality from the beginning, and because if you need to create a vision, there really isn't a easier field than spaceflight. It's as no-brainer as it gets if you're looking for a 5-10-15 year vision with the potential for political grandstanding.<br /><br />So wholla, the POTUS puts together a vision in time for the re-election campaign. But he was six months early, and that puzzled me. Also he didn't do the grandstanding thing. So I watched and figured out what was going on.<br /><br />(Yes this is all supposition and bashing, but since he clearly IS the worst president of the last 150 years, I have no problem with doing the bashing thing. <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> He deserves it, and I am staying on topic.)<br /><br />What does the Scientific community think of dubya? In case you hadn't noticed, just so you know, they LOATHE him. Where did that come from?<br /><br />Smoke and Mirrors: the essence of this administration. Anyone with a critical eye could not help but notice the flowery speeches given in support of this that or the <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[halman]

spacester,<br /><br />The Vision for Space Exploration struck me from the git go as another 'welfare' program for the military-industrial complex. The lack of additional funding for the program indicated that there was no political will behind it, and its broad, poorly defined goals made long-term viability very questionable. By including Mars as the ultimate goal, it placated (to some degree) the most vocal and well organized element of the space enthusiast community, without requiring a commitment to build any expensive hardware during the remainder of the Cheney administration. (I am firmly convinced that Cheney is the actual power in the this administration, a position supported by the extensive amount of policy emanating from the Vice-President's office, something which is basically unheard of. Every VP that I am familiar with has basically been out of the loop as far as the day to day running of the administration.)<br /><br />I am certain that there are some members of Congress who are very disturbed at the prospect of the United States not having its own means of putting people into space after the shuttle is retired, and this program was designed to allay those fears without changing the funding level of NASA. This concern became more widely expressed once the Chinese demonstrated their determination to get involved in manned space flight.<br /><br />The VSE continues to treat off planet exploration as a form of scientific inquiry, instead of an effort to expand the sphere of human activity. It is viewed by many as a luxury which only rich countries can afford, instead of as a vital aspect of the growth of America. There is absolutely no reference to finding alternatives to our current methods of doing things, in spite of those methods being under threat from high energy costs and steadily tightening environmental restrictions. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">U.S. Space Exploration Policy</font>/i><br /><br />I thought it was because they liked the initials: USSEP, or written slightly differently: USS EP.<br /><br />Then it starts to take on the Star Trek nostalgia, like USS Enterprise. Just wait until they start naming the first mission ships. That is where the fun will begin.<br /><br /></i>

 

[docm]

So when does "Deck Chair" NASA get renamed The Federation? <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>