The American Spectator

John Lockwood br> Washington, D.C. /p>

‘Not long after the last moon mission returned to earth, America (or was it Jimmy?) decided that our national malaise precluded investing in things that could produce unvalued commodities such as quantum leaps in scientific progress and the sense of national purpose and pride. So we went on to build the space shuttle, a workhorse reusable launch vehicle that could carry large payloads into orbit, but not beyond. ‘

p>In fact, it was Nixon that cancelled the Apollo program, and redirected efforts towards a space shuttle. As much as I hate Goober Jimmy and love Tricky Dicky, the sad truth is that Nixon did the sorry deed… br> — Peter /p> p> I’m in full agreement with you. What we are doing now would be the same as if after Columbus having make his journeys to the new world Spain decided to park a ship 100 miles of its coast and shuttled people and material back and forth rather than keep going to the new world. That would have been a waste. All the big stuff was found after Columbus. br> — unsigned /p>

Though I agree with your article, I don’t know if I agree with some of the tenets you sight.

First, the period between 1952 to 1975 for both the U.S. and USSR the space race was part of a political scientific race. In a sense a scientific war without the use of weapons. From the period since the last joint Soyuz mission to present there has been no pressing push to “be out there.” Lacking any aim, science for science’s sake became the buzzword.

Second NASA’s mission should radically change. NASA should still be a champion for basic science missions developing payload packages, etc. But their bigger mission should be the fostering of private enterprise into space. Until profits are being made from low earth orbit there will be no great leaps. Possibly NASA should be emulating the Postal Service of old with the fledgling airline industry. Let lift contracts for payloads to private concerns at certain launch prices. Adjusting the price downward over time to get the lift prices down to where launches into space are not much more than three times current airline ticket prices for an international flight.