I know politics were a hot topic on this forum the last time around, so I am surprised nobody brought up the election this time.
What does this new President mean for America's space programme? I know the two have been linked in the past, so I am curious what will happen this time around. Any thoughts?
President Obama
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President Obama
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Youth ASA 6-Day 1998 1999
Adult ASA 8-Day 2004; Alumni 2007, CSC 2013, 2015, 2017
I'm taking a wait and see on this 0one. He has said things negative and positive to diffrent audiences rearding the space program i don't know what to believe
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SC 1991
SA Level 1 1993
AC Intermediate 1996
ASA 1998
Corporate Space Camp 2005
AC Counselor Summer 07 callsign Boomerang
Adult Alumni Camp 2007
Adult Alumni Camp 2008
Official Space Camp Ambassador
- monkeynautt
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Personally, I'm worried about the future of the US space program. We're at a pretty critical time right now. The shuttle fleet is aging and the Orion system isn't coming online as quickly as is needed for there not to be a gap in the US space capability. That's not a good thing.
Also, I think there's a real lack of public support for space exploration and the development of new equipment and technologies. The general public doesn't see spending on these types of programs as important, especially since there's rarely a lot of big, "gee whiz", applicable to the average person right here, right now. What they forget is that so very much of the technology that they depend on every single day is either directly or indirectly related to the space program (everything from cell phones, to digital watches to the polar fleece vests with velcro pockets that keeps us warm and comfy). There also seems to be a lack of tolerance for funding programs that might fail. The thing is, so many major development, even those in consumer products (post-it notes and disposable diapers) have come by accident or from a failed experiment. Science is risky simply because, by definition, we don't know the outcome to the experiments. But without a tolerance for spending on projects that might fail, we'll never have any real innovation. And the general population doesn't seem to understand that.
Recently I've found myself repeating what has become a mantra of sorts when thinking about issues like this. Half the population is, by defintion, below average intelligence. And I hang out mostly with those who are well above the average. It's a truth that helps me keep things in perspective.
Also, I think there's a real lack of public support for space exploration and the development of new equipment and technologies. The general public doesn't see spending on these types of programs as important, especially since there's rarely a lot of big, "gee whiz", applicable to the average person right here, right now. What they forget is that so very much of the technology that they depend on every single day is either directly or indirectly related to the space program (everything from cell phones, to digital watches to the polar fleece vests with velcro pockets that keeps us warm and comfy). There also seems to be a lack of tolerance for funding programs that might fail. The thing is, so many major development, even those in consumer products (post-it notes and disposable diapers) have come by accident or from a failed experiment. Science is risky simply because, by definition, we don't know the outcome to the experiments. But without a tolerance for spending on projects that might fail, we'll never have any real innovation. And the general population doesn't seem to understand that.
Recently I've found myself repeating what has become a mantra of sorts when thinking about issues like this. Half the population is, by defintion, below average intelligence. And I hang out mostly with those who are well above the average. It's a truth that helps me keep things in perspective.
Level I Aug '89-Rockwell
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Level II Aug '91-Lockheed Engineering
Level II Aug '92-Lockheed Aerospace-Right Stuff Award
Adult ASA Sept '07-Marshall MS
Adult ASA Train With an Astronaut-Oct '15-Discovery-Commander's Cup, Challenger Award, Alumni Coin
I agree completely. The kind of backwards thig is that people regard spaceflight as routine. It's amazing that we can launch a space mission so often! People just don't see all these advances. *sigh...*
Don't Panic
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-The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
Space Academy 6 Day- Week 39 2006
Space Academy 8 Day- Week 40 2007
Advanced Academy 8 Day- Week 40 2008
Advanced Academy 6 Day- Week 40 2009
The other day on TV I saw Obama talking to the space station. THere were some kids with him. Gee, the President and Astronauts, those are lucky kids *envy*
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Bay 205-Team Orville
Advanced Space Academy-June 26-July 1 2011
Bay 221-Team Von Braun
Yes, the President is so"with" the space program that he asked the astronauts if they still drank Tang.
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He was probably joking.bnaivar wrote:Yes, the President is so"with" the space program that he asked the astronauts if they still drank Tang.
Space Camp July 9-14 2006
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Space Academy June 17-22 2007
Bay 205-Team Orville
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Bay 221-Team Von Braun
Phoenix Bay-Team Armstrong
Space Academy June 17-22 2007
Bay 205-Team Orville
Advanced Space Academy-June 26-July 1 2011
Bay 221-Team Von Braun