Space Forum / Space Policy / January 2004

some pictures are here:
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
backup at: http://www.sciencegroups.com/viewtopic.php?t=8809
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The bottom line of Bush's space speech is that it is a load of wishful
thinking.  They're going to build a moon base, but not while Bush is
president.  They're going to retire the space shuttle and "complete"
the space station, but not while Bush is president.  There will be a new

As President Bush outlined in his speech, he wants to involve other nations
on the lunar-Mars exploration endeavor. So who do you guys think will be
involved. I'm pretty sure Europe will want to join or take part in any
manned moon landing.

Is it possible to BUILD a SHIP In SPACE, out of a Polymer Based
Plastic, we sometimes hear people complaining how our cars are being
build with less metal these days. I could imagine a SHIP, which could
be constructed of a PolyUrethane Coated Injection Moulded Plastic,

I'm all for exploring Mars but I am curious why NASA put
so much effort into looking for old water on Mars and no
effort into using robot explorers to confirm reports of
water on the moon.  Any ideas?

based on the text found at http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/54868main_bush_trans.pdf
"In the past 30 years, no human being has set foot on another world, or
ventured farther up into space than 386 miles..."
Sad but true!

Please excuse me if this seems a dumb question, but I can't seem to find
the answer: what is the status of HR 3245, the Commercial Space Act of
2003?  Dead?  Passed?  Moving forward?  Stalled?
(If there's some general government site that lets me look up the status

With Bush supposedly announcing a new space agenda next week, what's
being overlooked is the private sector.  While Bush, his opponents,
proxmires, etc arguing about the cost and why or whether we should go
out into space, the private sector is moving along.

It seems no sooner does George Bush announce a new direction for NASA, that the
anti-space lobby comes out in force to find reasons why not, its not that they
mind the expenditures of NASA, but that it should suddenly become interesting
rather than boring like it now is. Redirect ...

From: "Oooh, there's a satellite going across the night sky."
To: "Gee, you think that thing is aiming at us?"
Corry

UPI ran this article a few days before Bush announced the new plan.
Bush to seek partners for space plan
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040111-094749-7399r
Yet in his speach , only heard 'International' mentioned in connection with the ISS.

Any information, hint, implication as to what da Prez' speech will
do to or for Project Prometheus, aka nuclear power and propulsion?

If you look at the original leaked story to Keith Cowing and Frank Sietzen,
they claimed that NASA would get $800 million more, plus a five percent
increase for each of five years.
But the plan as released so far mentions no additional $800 million, and

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040109/325/eiotu.html
Hopefully himself, on permanent mission.

So what will it be. Do we build new Saturn Vs, Magnum rockets, Ares launchers,
or Shuttle Zs?