I'd like to see him cancel SLS and put those funds to better use on a BLEO exploration plan that uses commercial acquisition similar to COTS/CRS/commercial crew, rather than having the government make the design decisions.
I am starting this thread because I would like to hear what people hope to see from Ted Cruz as the chair. What would YOU like to see him take up when the gavel drops? Include topics and verbiage. Please be specific as possible but realize essays will end up not doing you any good.Please do not post any of the typical stuff either for or against the senator. We do not need another thread locked and tucked away. I would ask that any post that strays from the idea of the thread would be banished to Tunguska. Respectfully,Andrew Gasser
Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 01/15/2015 10:05 pmI'd like to see him cancel SLS and put those funds to better use on a BLEO exploration plan that uses commercial acquisition similar to COTS/CRS/commercial crew, rather than having the government make the design decisions.Ditto me. I have absolutely no expectation that this will happen, however.
Cruz has only been involved with NASA during the last couple of years. Commercial crew has been adequately funded for the last couple of years (close to $700M). He replaced Senator Hutchison on that subcommittee. Cruz meant that we shouldn't have to rely solely on the Russians for ferrying crew to the ISS and that's a fair point. It's not Obama's fault but he isn't going to admit it. He has to sound like he disagrees with Obama even though it doesn't seem that he intends to change anything substantive about his policies. He is a presidential candidate for 2016. He is not going to praise Obama. He has to sound like he would have done a better job had he been President. That's just the way politics works.
Apparently, I'm not allowed to post the whole truth
I would like to hear what people hope to see from Ted Cruz as the chair. What would YOU like to see him take up when the gavel drops? Include topics and verbiage. Please be specific as possible but realize essays will end up not doing you any good.Please do not post any of the typical stuff either for or against the senator. I would ask that any post that strays from the idea of the thread would be banished to Tunguska. Respectfully,Andrew Gasser
He is going to shape NASA for a few years ahead.
It is most certainly Obama's "fault" (I prefer to say responsibility) that we have relied solely on the Russians for ferrying crew to ISS. The Bush administration plan to retire the shuttle fleet was still in its early stages, and in January 2009 we still had three flying orbiters and the production facilities for tanks and boosters were still there -- there are articles here from February and March 2009 that discussed shuttle extension options.This isn't a judgement on whether or not it was a good, correct, or even a well-reasoned decision. But to suggest that he was just a spectator to some inexorable process isn't at all accurate.
It is most certainly Obama's "fault" (I prefer to say responsibility) that we have relied solely on the Russians for ferrying crew to ISS... The President had an opportunity at that point to extend the shuttle program even further (beyond even STS-135), admittedly with some effort and at some cost.
See the entire form of government in the US is established to prevent ONE person from deciding what all should do. We decided not to have Kings and Queens rule over us. Unfortunately this does nothing for those who want to demonstrate "leadership". KBH (Kay Bailey Hutchison) was very eloquent and had a leadership characteristics. But ultimately, she was not able to set a 'vision' for NASA. I think only the president can do this. So (to me) she was only able to push for different allocations of a set budget. Which unfortunately is more micromanagement.
I really think he is only able to help manage the budget up a little and have a nice conversation with the administrators and other invited speakers to do this.
Otherwise Obama has to define the budget and goals and have responsibility to see the stuff happens.
I want Americans to win the race for the kinds of discoveries that unleash new jobs -- converting sunlight into liquid fuel; creating revolutionary prosthetics, so that a veteran who gave his arms for his country can play catch with his kid; pushing out into the Solar System not just to visit, but to stay. Last month, we launched a new spacecraft as part of a re-energized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars. In two months, to prepare us for those missions, Scott Kelly will begin a year-long stay in space. Good luck, Captain -- and make sure to Instagram it.
One has to remember that the President said during the campaign that he wanted to defund NASA in part, so he could increase funding to the Department of Education.
Way back in 2007-2008. Obama has had many chances to do so and has not, so it's pretty lame for you to bring that up.