Obama Nasa plans 'catastrophic' say Moon astronauts

[Horwood Beer-Master]

Obama Nasa plans 'catastrophic' say Moon astronauts

Former Nasa astronauts who went to the Moon have told the BBC of their dismay at President Barack Obama's decision to push back further Moon missions.

Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, said Mr Obama's decision would have "catastrophic consequences" for US space exploration.

The last man on the Moon, Eugene Cernan, said it was "disappointing"...

Not much to add.

They iz right.

[rachelbean]

This kills me

I just finished writing a paper on the LCROSS mission. It seems so pointless now (the mission, not the paper which was fun)

[AshtonBlack]

I am ambivalent about tinned primates flying round the solar system.
From a purely scientific standpoint, robotic missions are much more cost effective. Yet we still need to start, as a species, as Sagan put it "Paddling a little further out, at the shores of the Cosmic ocean."

[Elessarina]

I am ambivalent about tinned primates flying round the solar system.
From a purely scientific standpoint, robotic missions are much more cost effective. Yet we still need to start, as a species, as Sagan put it "Paddling a little further out, at the shores of the Cosmic ocean."

I know what you mean Ash. And I don't see how this can be "catastrophic".. there are other issues on Earth to be dealt with at the moment

[Rum]

I used to be all for this sort of thing and there is still a part of me that thinks our future is 'out there'. But the hurdles are much bigger than we really comprehend and the problems we face here on the planet so enormous that I am not quite so sure any more. Can the billions really be justified?

[AshtonBlack]

I seriously, suspect that unless we have a Global Space Agency, rather than split on nationalistic or continental lines, then going anywhere other than orbit, or at most "a quick visit to the moon", is not going to be possible due to the cost.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

It seems that alot of people on this thread buy into the popular (and, I might add, "populist") myth about the supposedly huge amounts of money that are spent on space exploration.


If we were to divert the money being spent worldwide on space exploration to the "more important" earthbound matters, it would amount to the tiniest drop in the ocean.

[Clinton Huxley]

I think sending humans into low-earth orbit or even to the Moon is a pointless exercise in macho posturing. There's far more return on your money from a mission like Cassini than, say, the ISS. For all the money that's been spent on that flying hamster cage we could have had major robotic missions to ALL the planets, Europa landers, Titan balloons, etc etc etc.

Still, with China and India now wanting to display how big their genitals are, I wouldn't be surprised if the US manned moon mission proposals get dusted off again in a few years.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

This is Virphen's fault.

[ficklefiend]

Where's my warp drive, huh? Scientists..

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Where's my warp drive, huh? Scientists..

"Where are the flying cars." (From now on known officials as Pascal's Complaint.)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Where's my warp drive, huh? Scientists..

"Where are the flying cars." (From now on known officials as What's-His-Name's Complaint.)

[RuleBritannia]

It seems that alot of people on this thread buy into the popular (and, I might add, "populist") myth about the supposedly huge amounts of money that are spent on space exploration.


If we were to divert the money being spent worldwide on space exploration to the "more important" earthbound matters, it would amount to the tiniest drop in the ocean.

Maybe instead of posting a link to the Wikipedia entry on "populism" you should have posted a link to show how much space exploration actually costs.

[Azathoth]

More importantly where is my fucking space elevator.

[Feck]

There are a lot more things to be done than putting Meatsacks on the moon .