NASA to offer $100 billion moon program

But given the Iraq war and the recovery from Hurricane Katrina, some on Capitol Hill criticize the lunar plan over costs.

The story "NASA to offer $100 billion moon program" published September 18, 2005 at 2:13 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

Not like we ever went to the moon before...

"Bread + Circuses" ... :P

[Jonathan]

Thank god they didn't say that about discovering the Americas

That being said. Money should be diverted from such programs for a while until:
1. Warmonger and he cohorts are out of office and someone who KNOWS how to run the country shows up. Which is about 90% of the American public.
2. The gulf region starts to really recuperate.

Until then spending that kind of money on new endeavors is just unethical IMHO.

Not like we ever went to the moon before...

"Bread + Circuses" ... :P

[Jonathan]

Thank god they didn't say that about discovering the Americas

That being said. Money should be diverted from such programs for a while until:
1. Warmonger and he cohorts are out of office and someone who KNOWS how to run the country shows up. Which is about 90% of the American public.
2. The gulf region starts to really recuperate.

Until then spending that kind of money on new endeavors is just unethical IMHO.

Not like we ever went to the moon before...

"Bread + Circuses" ... :P

[Jonathan]

Thank god they didn't say that about discovering the Americas

That being said. Money should be diverted from such programs for a while until:
1. Warmonger and he cohorts are out of office and someone who KNOWS how to run the country shows up. Which is about 90% of the American public.
2. The gulf region starts to really recuperate.

Until then spending that kind of money on new endeavors is just unethical IMHO.

Not like we ever went to the moon before...

"Bread + Circuses" ... :P

[Jonathan]

Thank god they didn't say that about discovering the Americas

That being said. Money should be diverted from such programs for a while until:
1. Warmonger and he cohorts are out of office and someone who KNOWS how to run the country shows up. Which is about 90% of the American public.
2. The gulf region starts to really recuperate.

Until then spending that kind of money on new endeavors is just unethical IMHO.

[MahRain]

...exactly the costs of the Apollo program!

On the internet I found that the costs of the Apollo program were, in total, 25 billion dollars (1969 through the last mission), with an initial cost of 16 billion dollars and further $3 billion per Saturn rocket launch.

Calculating the time value of money using several methods yields a current value of 25 billion dollars in 1969 of... 100-125 billion dollars!

So, what's different now or should we just build another Saturn V?

[MahRain]

...exactly the costs of the Apollo program!

On the internet I found that the costs of the Apollo program were, in total, 25 billion dollars (1969 through the last mission), with an initial cost of 16 billion dollars and further $3 billion per Saturn rocket launch.

Calculating the time value of money using several methods yields a current value of 25 billion dollars in 1969 of... 100-125 billion dollars!

So, what's different now or should we just build another Saturn V?

[MahRain]

...exactly the costs of the Apollo program!

On the internet I found that the costs of the Apollo program were, in total, 25 billion dollars (1969 through the last mission), with an initial cost of 16 billion dollars and further $3 billion per Saturn rocket launch.

Calculating the time value of money using several methods yields a current value of 25 billion dollars in 1969 of... 100-125 billion dollars!

So, what's different now or should we just build another Saturn V?

[MahRain]

...exactly the costs of the Apollo program!

On the internet I found that the costs of the Apollo program were, in total, 25 billion dollars (1969 through the last mission), with an initial cost of 16 billion dollars and further $3 billion per Saturn rocket launch.

Calculating the time value of money using several methods yields a current value of 25 billion dollars in 1969 of... 100-125 billion dollars!

So, what's different now or should we just build another Saturn V?

follow the money

I heard a comment on this a couple months back on coast to cost am. The callers noted that private enterprise has gone into space for far less money..

and considering the state of politics in the US it comes as no surprise that the current administration wants to funnel more money to its coughers.. I dont see the ROI...

I suggest the administration invest the money elsewhere rather than throwing it into outer space and lining the pockets of defense contractors..

For starters, they could develop technology that strengthens our eroded civil liberites like privacy and speach... because noawadays, everyone is guilty until proven innocent.. and who know how long that will take to get ironed out

another area that should be considered for investment is humane environments.. poverty in America is at epidemic levels... people who are forced to live outside struggle to contribute to
their communites and make the world a better place

another area that should be considered is our supposed democratic election system.. the people can handle the truth

America can not lead the world if it cant take care of its own people. Space travel is a great thing but it wont succeed on a foundation built on hatered, mistrust, and fraud.

follow the money

I heard a comment on this a couple months back on coast to cost am. The callers noted that private enterprise has gone into space for far less money..

and considering the state of politics in the US it comes as no surprise that the current administration wants to funnel more money to its coughers.. I dont see the ROI...

I suggest the administration invest the money elsewhere rather than throwing it into outer space and lining the pockets of defense contractors..

For starters, they could develop technology that strengthens our eroded civil liberites like privacy and speach... because noawadays, everyone is guilty until proven innocent.. and who know how long that will take to get ironed out

another area that should be considered for investment is humane environments.. poverty in America is at epidemic levels... people who are forced to live outside struggle to contribute to
their communites and make the world a better place

another area that should be considered is our supposed democratic election system.. the people can handle the truth

America can not lead the world if it cant take care of its own people. Space travel is a great thing but it wont succeed on a foundation built on hatered, mistrust, and fraud.

follow the money

I heard a comment on this a couple months back on coast to cost am. The callers noted that private enterprise has gone into space for far less money..

and considering the state of politics in the US it comes as no surprise that the current administration wants to funnel more money to its coughers.. I dont see the ROI...

I suggest the administration invest the money elsewhere rather than throwing it into outer space and lining the pockets of defense contractors..

For starters, they could develop technology that strengthens our eroded civil liberites like privacy and speach... because noawadays, everyone is guilty until proven innocent.. and who know how long that will take to get ironed out

another area that should be considered for investment is humane environments.. poverty in America is at epidemic levels... people who are forced to live outside struggle to contribute to
their communites and make the world a better place

another area that should be considered is our supposed democratic election system.. the people can handle the truth

America can not lead the world if it cant take care of its own people. Space travel is a great thing but it wont succeed on a foundation built on hatered, mistrust, and fraud.

follow the money

I heard a comment on this a couple months back on coast to cost am. The callers noted that private enterprise has gone into space for far less money..

and considering the state of politics in the US it comes as no surprise that the current administration wants to funnel more money to its coughers.. I dont see the ROI...

I suggest the administration invest the money elsewhere rather than throwing it into outer space and lining the pockets of defense contractors..

For starters, they could develop technology that strengthens our eroded civil liberites like privacy and speach... because noawadays, everyone is guilty until proven innocent.. and who know how long that will take to get ironed out

another area that should be considered for investment is humane environments.. poverty in America is at epidemic levels... people who are forced to live outside struggle to contribute to
their communites and make the world a better place

another area that should be considered is our supposed democratic election system.. the people can handle the truth

America can not lead the world if it cant take care of its own people. Space travel is a great thing but it wont succeed on a foundation built on hatered, mistrust, and fraud.

[m.meister]

13 Year NASA Program = 1 Year in Iraq

I'm sure there are plenty of pork projects included with this, but
lets face it. NASA is proposing a price tag that covers the next
13 years to advance science. Even with blown budgets, it might
amount to 2 years of money spent in Iraq.

It is sad that our government is so quick to destroy people and
places and will spend whatever money to do such, but scream
bloody murder at the notion of creating something new and
expanding the horizons of man.

It says a lot about our society.

I do believe NASA should look to these private companies as
inspiration for how to reduce costs. At the same time, realize
that our leaders are often penny-wise and pound-foolish
looking to save a buck or two now (which costs us 100 or 1000
times that in the future). New Orleans is an example of this, the
original Shuttle program is an example of this as well.

[Christopher Hall]

Getting to a rock devoid of life and resources...

Priceless?

[m.meister]

13 Year NASA Program = 1 Year in Iraq

I'm sure there are plenty of pork projects included with this, but
lets face it. NASA is proposing a price tag that covers the next
13 years to advance science. Even with blown budgets, it might
amount to 2 years of money spent in Iraq.

It is sad that our government is so quick to destroy people and
places and will spend whatever money to do such, but scream
bloody murder at the notion of creating something new and
expanding the horizons of man.

It says a lot about our society.

I do believe NASA should look to these private companies as
inspiration for how to reduce costs. At the same time, realize
that our leaders are often penny-wise and pound-foolish
looking to save a buck or two now (which costs us 100 or 1000
times that in the future). New Orleans is an example of this, the
original Shuttle program is an example of this as well.

[Christopher Hall]

Getting to a rock devoid of life and resources...

Priceless?

[m.meister]

13 Year NASA Program = 1 Year in Iraq

I'm sure there are plenty of pork projects included with this, but
lets face it. NASA is proposing a price tag that covers the next
13 years to advance science. Even with blown budgets, it might
amount to 2 years of money spent in Iraq.

It is sad that our government is so quick to destroy people and
places and will spend whatever money to do such, but scream
bloody murder at the notion of creating something new and
expanding the horizons of man.

It says a lot about our society.

I do believe NASA should look to these private companies as
inspiration for how to reduce costs. At the same time, realize
that our leaders are often penny-wise and pound-foolish
looking to save a buck or two now (which costs us 100 or 1000
times that in the future). New Orleans is an example of this, the
original Shuttle program is an example of this as well.

[Christopher Hall]

Getting to a rock devoid of life and resources...

Priceless?

[m.meister]

13 Year NASA Program = 1 Year in Iraq

I'm sure there are plenty of pork projects included with this, but
lets face it. NASA is proposing a price tag that covers the next
13 years to advance science. Even with blown budgets, it might
amount to 2 years of money spent in Iraq.

It is sad that our government is so quick to destroy people and
places and will spend whatever money to do such, but scream
bloody murder at the notion of creating something new and
expanding the horizons of man.

It says a lot about our society.

I do believe NASA should look to these private companies as
inspiration for how to reduce costs. At the same time, realize
that our leaders are often penny-wise and pound-foolish
looking to save a buck or two now (which costs us 100 or 1000
times that in the future). New Orleans is an example of this, the
original Shuttle program is an example of this as well.

[Christopher Hall]

Getting to a rock devoid of life and resources...

Priceless?

[Stating]

Like We Never Went To The Moon

Twelve to fourteen years and a real cost of $200 - $300 billion (not the phoney $100 billion) sounds to me like we are going to the moon for the first time. We supposedly went to the moon in only 10 years after the JFK commitment, using 1960's technology and 1950's science. Think about every other tech endeavor today and and compare it to where it was in 1960. This does not compute. Where is the real investigative journalism here. Hell, the last shuttle mission, which is sub-orbital, just barely got back in one piece.

[Stating]

Like We Never Went To The Moon

Twelve to fourteen years and a real cost of $200 - $300 billion (not the phoney $100 billion) sounds to me like we are going to the moon for the first time. We supposedly went to the moon in only 10 years after the JFK commitment, using 1960's technology and 1950's science. Think about every other tech endeavor today and and compare it to where it was in 1960. This does not compute. Where is the real investigative journalism here. Hell, the last shuttle mission, which is sub-orbital, just barely got back in one piece.

[Stating]

Like We Never Went To The Moon

Twelve to fourteen years and a real cost of $200 - $300 billion (not the phoney $100 billion) sounds to me like we are going to the moon for the first time. We supposedly went to the moon in only 10 years after the JFK commitment, using 1960's technology and 1950's science. Think about every other tech endeavor today and and compare it to where it was in 1960. This does not compute. Where is the real investigative journalism here. Hell, the last shuttle mission, which is sub-orbital, just barely got back in one piece.

[Stating]

Like We Never Went To The Moon

Twelve to fourteen years and a real cost of $200 - $300 billion (not the phoney $100 billion) sounds to me like we are going to the moon for the first time. We supposedly went to the moon in only 10 years after the JFK commitment, using 1960's technology and 1950's science. Think about every other tech endeavor today and and compare it to where it was in 1960. This does not compute. Where is the real investigative journalism here. Hell, the last shuttle mission, which is sub-orbital, just barely got back in one piece.

Outsource and Cut Cost

When we last visited the Moon, we had spares. There are two perfectly servicable Saturn V's sitting on display, one at the Cape, the second at Johnson Space Flight Center. Sell them to the Chinese, outsource to software to India, and sell the marketing rights to the private sector. The video of the staging burn and the instrumentation ring separation should be good for a few $$$. CBS designed the color cameras last time. I'm sure Samsung would pay to get the rights. There are a pile of Hassleblads laying out there for the taking. E-Bay could make a bundle. Slap a few logos on the side and sell ad time on the coverage.

The Russians still have their Energia ready and could get there before NASA finished arguing what color to paint the next shuttle. Do you want foam with that?

would you like foam with that?

I would rather have had my old tech support job that got outsourced to india... than having to deliver pizzas and end up living in my car after 911.. nonetheless, plenty of people were still able to drive new German cars off the lots... I think our leaders care more about automobiles than people... and so they are selling out short.. I wonder why?

the plutocrats are smoking crack if they think american wage slaves can still lead the world when thier 9-5 jobs are outsourced... oh yah, cut their taxes!! that will help.. have you heard, jobless claims are down.. lets flood the stock market with all companies ending in .com! ?Donde Esta El Retiremento? Thank god I was required to study another language in college

Outsource and Cut Cost

When we last visited the Moon, we had spares. There are two perfectly servicable Saturn V's sitting on display, one at the Cape, the second at Johnson Space Flight Center. Sell them to the Chinese, outsource to software to India, and sell the marketing rights to the private sector. The video of the staging burn and the instrumentation ring separation should be good for a few $$$. CBS designed the color cameras last time. I'm sure Samsung would pay to get the rights. There are a pile of Hassleblads laying out there for the taking. E-Bay could make a bundle. Slap a few logos on the side and sell ad time on the coverage.

The Russians still have their Energia ready and could get there before NASA finished arguing what color to paint the next shuttle. Do you want foam with that?

would you like foam with that?

I would rather have had my old tech support job that got outsourced to india... than having to deliver pizzas and end up living in my car after 911.. nonetheless, plenty of people were still able to drive new German cars off the lots... I think our leaders care more about automobiles than people... and so they are selling out short.. I wonder why?

the plutocrats are smoking crack if they think american wage slaves can still lead the world when thier 9-5 jobs are outsourced... oh yah, cut their taxes!! that will help.. have you heard, jobless claims are down.. lets flood the stock market with all companies ending in .com! ?Donde Esta El Retiremento? Thank god I was required to study another language in college

Outsource and Cut Cost

When we last visited the Moon, we had spares. There are two perfectly servicable Saturn V's sitting on display, one at the Cape, the second at Johnson Space Flight Center. Sell them to the Chinese, outsource to software to India, and sell the marketing rights to the private sector. The video of the staging burn and the instrumentation ring separation should be good for a few $$$. CBS designed the color cameras last time. I'm sure Samsung would pay to get the rights. There are a pile of Hassleblads laying out there for the taking. E-Bay could make a bundle. Slap a few logos on the side and sell ad time on the coverage.

The Russians still have their Energia ready and could get there before NASA finished arguing what color to paint the next shuttle. Do you want foam with that?

would you like foam with that?

I would rather have had my old tech support job that got outsourced to india... than having to deliver pizzas and end up living in my car after 911.. nonetheless, plenty of people were still able to drive new German cars off the lots... I think our leaders care more about automobiles than people... and so they are selling out short.. I wonder why?

the plutocrats are smoking crack if they think american wage slaves can still lead the world when thier 9-5 jobs are outsourced... oh yah, cut their taxes!! that will help.. have you heard, jobless claims are down.. lets flood the stock market with all companies ending in .com! ?Donde Esta El Retiremento? Thank god I was required to study another language in college

Outsource and Cut Cost

When we last visited the Moon, we had spares. There are two perfectly servicable Saturn V's sitting on display, one at the Cape, the second at Johnson Space Flight Center. Sell them to the Chinese, outsource to software to India, and sell the marketing rights to the private sector. The video of the staging burn and the instrumentation ring separation should be good for a few $$$. CBS designed the color cameras last time. I'm sure Samsung would pay to get the rights. There are a pile of Hassleblads laying out there for the taking. E-Bay could make a bundle. Slap a few logos on the side and sell ad time on the coverage.

The Russians still have their Energia ready and could get there before NASA finished arguing what color to paint the next shuttle. Do you want foam with that?

would you like foam with that?

I would rather have had my old tech support job that got outsourced to india... than having to deliver pizzas and end up living in my car after 911.. nonetheless, plenty of people were still able to drive new German cars off the lots... I think our leaders care more about automobiles than people... and so they are selling out short.. I wonder why?

the plutocrats are smoking crack if they think american wage slaves can still lead the world when thier 9-5 jobs are outsourced... oh yah, cut their taxes!! that will help.. have you heard, jobless claims are down.. lets flood the stock market with all companies ending in .com! ?Donde Esta El Retiremento? Thank god I was required to study another language in college

The Quickest Route between points A and B...

What is the Quickest route between points A and B? There are mutiple answers to this one - I have two of them: 1) Build this long cylindrical shaped metal housing, fill the inside with 1 Million gallons of fuel, then strap yourself to it, ignite, liftoff, hang on for all you are worth! Voila! As simplistic and "no duh!" as this sounds - it is our only, let me say again ONLY method of reaching LEO (low earth atmosphere). We calculate how much fuel it will take to put us out there - we aim for that spot - once there, we drift - when we've had enough, we literally FALL back to Earth! That's it. That is our ONLY capability. We are not the Jetsons yet. We have seen too many Star Trek episodes. We have no ability to propel, drive around, or control our drift. In summary - The Moon is not only more practical, it is a matter of baby steps. Klingons - we are not! But give us time. 2) Think DISTANCE - now that we have learned that we have no ability to fly OUT THERE...it would be like aiming for your best friends house, get a good push, then just sit inside the car and see if it rolls all the way to your friend. Of course, there are no freeways, houses, trees, lakes and the like in your way UP THERE, granted - but, the drift remains the same! It is "Distance" that is our enemy with Mars. One of the functions of the International Space Station is that we "think" it will provide a repair facility - when and if - we gain the ability to drive around up there. Going to Mars is so far - if you needed repair of any kind to your craft - you would never make it back to earth. The ISS would be your only hope, as a middle of the road (or beam) as it were. So it is the double DD's = Driving and Distance that bring us to our knees (gravity helps a little too!). So, think MOON. Where running down to the local convenience store for some milk - has a whole new meaning!