President Barack Obama boldly predicted Thursday his new plans for space exploration would lead American astronauts on historic, almost fantastic journeys to an asteroid and then to Mars — and in his lifetime — relying on rockets and propulsion still to be imagined and built.From this article.
The Moon was supposed to be the first stepping stone, right?
After the Moon, Mars. After Mars, the asteroid belt for mining. After successful mining, on to the outer planets.
The first stepping stone, right? But it didn't accomplish that, and it shouldn't have. Unfortunately, that's what the world, and worse, Congress expected.
What should the Moon landing have led to? More fuel efficient, cheaper, and safer ways to get into orbit. Practice creating artificial gravity. Permanent residence in orbit.
Then we go back to the Moon and set up long term facilities.
You know, I've lost what I was going to say.
Basically, I wish we'd focus our manned space program on learning better/cheaper ways to lob things into orbit. That's the expensive part, right now. After we can successfully and cheaply get people up there start to work on ways to get out of Earth's gravity well and moving to an asteroid or a planet.
I want us to continue to explore. I want us out there. I just don't see taking anymore big steps without setting up an infrastructure to support multiple trips as the way to do it.
Humanity should be done with the Cold War Space Race Bullshit by now.
Why do I get the feeling that it never will be finished, though?
