Space Forum / Space Policy / January 2004

Does anybody have an opinion on this, because hematite is a naturally
magnetic ore, and if Spirit landed in a field of it, might the fields be
enough to scramble her circuits?

Boeing has kindly provided lots of images for implementing the Bush
plan--make your own space ship!
http://boeingmedia.com/images/search.cfm?product_id=1525
These graphics were provided at no extra cost to the US taxpayer.

Just saw this:
<http://www.spacex.com/index.html?section=media&content=http%3A//www.spac
ex.com/press7.php>
Particularly interesting bits:

Rather than developing a new Apollo-style capsule to be launched on an
expendable rocket, I think the United States should develop a fully
reusable human-rated launch system that will significantly lower the
cost and risk associated with spaceflight.  Anything else seems

I'm a big supporter of space exploration, but I really think Bush is
taking the wrong approach here. The most likely result of his plan
will be a huge ISS-like expenditure on a moonbase of limited
scientific value while funding for less expensive unmanned space

I´ve developed an FTL-hyper drive but I don´t know if it´s allowed to
use hyper-speed in our solar system.
So I don´t want to risk problems with the space cops when flying 2*c.
Anyone knows more about speed limits and other laws about using

With the limitations on Shuttle missions, can Russia do the needed
upgrades for Hubble? Sure they don't have a robotic arm and NASA
astronauts would have to come along to do the actual maintenance and
secure the upgrades, but could they do the get-there part of the mission

Space Pork for FL & TX
President Bush plans to announce a plan to set up a human base on the moon
and work towards a manned mission to Mars. Let's see who benefits from space
pork. According to the NY Times (01/10/04), 14,000 people work at NASA

An astronaut died in a horrible fire. The mortician thought it was possibly this
guy he met once named Gus, but the body was so badly burned, he needed
somebody to make a positive identification.
That task fell to Guss two friends, Deke and Al. Deke came over to the

While I applaud Bush for aiming for a moonbase and a
manned mission to Mars; I think there is a far better
way to develop our space technology, and at the same time
guarantee that we will still be here as a civilisation in 100 years,

I think this is a major improvement, for a number of reasons discusse
elsewhere.
Last night there was some guy from the Mars society on english news
saying this was really bad, because the moon's a waste of space, and

Seems with yesterdays un-successful attempt to commnicate with it it's
gone.  Bugger.  :,-<

The earth's atmosphere is our first line of defense from falling
asteroid.  There is no atmosphere in the moon.  If you telescope the
moon you'll see too many craters caused by asteroids falling in the
moon.  Unlike the International Space Station it can evade the

So you want to go to Mars.  And you think our robot
friends will pave the way.  But the delay to the folks
back on Earth is a little long to provide interactive
control.  We also want an intermediate destination