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Nasa's budget projection:

Random ChaosRandom Chaos Actually Carefully-selected Order in disguise
The budget amendment calls for spending:

–$1.6 billion to upgrade and improve the four-vehicle space shuttle fleet so it could operate until about 2012. The plan leaves open an option of extending shuttle usage into the 2020s.

–$15.2 billion over the next decade or so to add a fifth shuttle flight to the annual schedule. The shuttle has been limited by budget constraints to four flights a year and nearly all have been dedicated to assembly of the space station. The added flight could be used to accelerate station assembly or to perform other missions that are not now possible.

–$6.6 billion through 2006 to finish the basic assembly of the space station. This includes completion and installation by Feb. 19, 2004, of Node 2, a U.S.-made cornerstone component to which European and Japanese components will be attached. "Node 2 completion is a big deal for us," said O'Keefe.

–$1.8 billion to support biological and physical research aboard the space station.

–$2.4 billion to research and develop technologies needed to build a new space system to replace the shuttle. This money would continue a long-range effort to develop a reusable craft that could frequently fly into orbit with less preparation and effort than is required for the space shuttle. O'Keefe would not estimate the final cost of such a craft, but a chart released by the agency suggested it would first fly in 2015.

–$2.4 billion to complete by 2004 the design of a new space plane that is intended specifically to ferry people in and out of space. O'Keefe said the design is still uncertain, but it would be a reusable spacecraft launched by expendable rockets. It could carry as many as 10 people. The plan calls for the craft to start operations sometime between 2008 and 2010.
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Comments

  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    Hmmm....
  • Your tax dollars at work... No wait, many of you are not US citizens or are tax evaders.

    So it's: My tax dollars at work... ...all I know is I'd better see a pay off personally. I think we should start charging non-US citizens to watch the shuttle launch pay per view style. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img] j/k; sort of. Then again maybe we should scrap NASA and let the Canadian, Japanese, and European space agencies do all the work. Better yet lets let the UN take over all space ventures: that's sure to get thing rolling. LOL

    Perhaps the best plan would be to scrap social security, tell all the old farts that they should have saved and planned for their own retirements, and dump the money into NASA. That way there might actually be a benefit to future generations instead of an increasing burden on them.
  • ArgoneArgone Genuine Klingon
    [quote]Originally posted by Konrad:
    [b]Your tax dollars at work... No wait, many of you are not US citizens or are tax evaders.

    So it's: My tax dollars at work... ...all I know is I'd better see a pay off personally. I think we should start charging non-US citizens to watch the shuttle launch pay per view style. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img] j/k; sort of. Then again maybe we should scrap NASA and let the Canadian, Japanese, and European space agencies do all the work. Better yet lets let the UN take over all space ventures: that's sure to get thing rolling. LOL

    Perhaps the best plan would be to scrap social security, tell all the old farts that they should have saved and planned for their own retirements, and dump the money into NASA. That way there might actually be a benefit to future generations instead of an increasing burden on them. [/b][/quote]

    Ahemmm..... I happen to be one of those old farts that worked with NASA when men were going into space on a bomb and a computer with the smarts of an adding machine!

    Private enterprise should be given a chance to do this and see if they can do better!

    So far no other country seems to be doing it any better than NASA!



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    [b]4 Thousand Throats can be cut in one night by a running Warrior[/b]
  • Rogue TraderRogue Trader Somebody stop him...
    and as safely. Nasa has lost not one person in space. or have had anyone die either [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]

    Corporations would cut corners that Nasa wouldnt.
  • Sometimes you really have to spell it out when you're joking on these boards otherwise people don't get it... (sigh)

    I support NASA as a federaly funded body, I also support tax credits/grants/etc for companies going into space for commerical reasons. Unlike RT I still have faith left in private enterprise, but then again I'm a proud product of that evil capitalist brainwashing [head for the hills]. My point was just that a lot of US tax dollars have been spent that have benifited the entire world.

    Lives lost "In Space" is a weighted statement, and I think it belittles those who gave their lives trying to get there. Blood, sweat, and tears have been shed getting to where we are: both US and Russian.

    As for scrapping Social Security - well we'll save that for another thread.
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    Dang... Not one mention of budget for Mars or Luna Colonization....

    [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/frown.gif[/img]
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    [quote]Originally posted by JackN:
    [b]Dang... Not one mention of budget for Mars or Luna Colonization....

    [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/frown.gif[/img][/b][/quote]

    I noticed that too....
  • Rogue TraderRogue Trader Somebody stop him...
    [quote]Originally posted by Konrad:
    [b]
    Lives lost "In Space" is a weighted statement, and I think it belittles those who gave their lives trying to get there. Blood, sweat, and tears have been shed getting to where we are: both US and Russian.
    [/b][/quote]

    I dont think it belittles anyone who gave their lives to getting there. I think its a testament to their sacrifice.
  • Random ChaosRandom Chaos Actually Carefully-selected Order in disguise
    [quote]Originally posted by Rogue Trader:
    [b]and as safely. Nasa has lost not one person in space. or have had anyone die either [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]

    Corporations would cut corners that Nasa wouldnt. [/b][/quote]


    Are you joking or not? Or have you forgotten the Apollo fire and the Challenger explosion?

    I agree they haven't lost anyone in space...but they have had people die trying to get there.
  • Alec MAlec M Award Winning Poster
    Losing only 10 people in almost 50 years of space flight is a fact NASA should be proud of, given the extremely dangerous nature of what they do.

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    [url="http://www.alecm.com/"]Alec McClymont[/url]
    "Something is only impossible until it's not."
  • Jon_SJon_S Earthforce Officer
    10 people in 50 years is a good number, but NASA doesn't launch all that often...
    The shuttle fleet not long ago passed it 100th launch. At 7 people max on a shuttle, thats around 700 people on the shuttle, maybe a couple hunderd more at the outside from all the non-shuttle missions (Mercury, Gemni, Apollo); call it 1000 people total max.

    So that 10 people works out to around 1% of the people NASA sent into space. Viewed that way the number isn't as impressive. Still a very good number, but calling it ten people in 50 years makes it sound a bit better than it is.
  • Random ChaosRandom Chaos Actually Carefully-selected Order in disguise
    Standard NASA lauches are 4/year.

    Their budget for next year will increase that to 5/year.

    It will be nice to see that increase [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
  • Alec MAlec M Award Winning Poster
    I don't know, 1% is very good considering the nature of the launch vehicles. Not to mention the nature of space flight itself. All those spacewalks, all that space junk, flying to the moon. 1% sounds pretty good to me.

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    [url="http://www.alecm.com/"]Alec McClymont[/url]
    "Something is only impossible until it's not."
  • I think going into space should be a world Effort.
  • WHY_oldWHY_old Elite Ranger
    You also have to consider that

    1) all 10 people were lost in two different Incidents (7 in Challenger, 3 in Apollo 1).

    2) there are most likely many, many, many more non-launch operations that we've never heard about.

    3)The russians lost quite a few people in space (ever wonder what happened to Yuri Gagarin ?)
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    [quote]Originally posted by WHY:
    [b]The russians lost quite a few people in space (ever wonder what happened to Yuri Gagarin ?)[/b][/quote]

    Heh heh yeah... Didn't they find him on Eros recently?

    NASA has done well concerning safety. They are more than free to take their time for safety reasons in my book!

    I have more of a bone to pick with the budget cuts they have to deal with than I do NASA itself. I think they do an incredible job considering! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]
  • Random ChaosRandom Chaos Actually Carefully-selected Order in disguise
    [quote]Originally posted by JackN:
    [b]I have more of a bone to pick with the budget cuts they have to deal with than I do NASA itself. I think they do an incredible job considering! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img][/b][/quote]

    Yeah, Congress really needs to give NASA more money...
  • ArgoneArgone Genuine Klingon
    NASA is doing a good job, but they depend on the Government, and being that the Government is in control things tend to get screwed up.

    As for losing people they have lost their share. But if everytime we get a bloody nose going into space, we're as a race, are going to get scared and quit then we might as well stop now!

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    [b]4 Thousand Throats can be cut in one night by a running Warrior[/b]
  • StrikerStriker Provided with distinction
    [quote]Originally posted by Random Chaos:
    [b]
    Are you joking or not? Or have you forgotten the Apollo fire and the Challenger explosion?

    I agree they haven't lost anyone in space...but they have had people die trying to get there.[/b][/quote]

    Note, he said IN space. Those 2 accidents did not occur in space, but on earth.
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    True. NASA has never lost a man or woman in space.
  • Random ChaosRandom Chaos Actually Carefully-selected Order in disguise
    BTW, did that Monkey survive? I can't remember [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
  • Rogue TraderRogue Trader Somebody stop him...
    ya and he got mutated and grew up to be President Bill Clinton.
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    [quote]Originally posted by Rogue Trader:
    [b]ya and he got mutated and grew up to be President Bill Clinton.[/b][/quote]

    Hooooe!!!

    RIMSHOT! Ba ding!

    [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img]
  • Random ChaosRandom Chaos Actually Carefully-selected Order in disguise
    [quote]Originally posted by Rogue Trader:
    [b]ya and he got mutated and grew up to be President Bill Clinton.[/b][/quote]


    Wait a second. Bush looks like a monkey far more the Clinton...
  • An ex-SquidAn ex-Squid Elite Ranger
    Of course, it depends on which monkey you're thinking of...

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    "Lies, damn lies, and statistics..." (secret motto of the Internal Revenue Service)

    Just another stubborn Naval Reservist...
  • We are going to crawl our way inch by inch into space untill their is a global effort and real political leadership like JFK's push to go to the moon. People aren't going carry the heavy cost of space unless in moves them, unless it inpires them. 20 year old expensive space shuttles, a space station and some rovers simply won't touch people. In the mean time we have alot of things to deal with here on earth before we can act as a planet to really explore space.

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    We Live as one, We die as one, We will face the darkness as one.

    "Understanding is a Three Edged Sword- Your side, Their side, And the Truth...."
  • shadow boxershadow boxer The Finger Painter & Master Ranter
    first we have to stop bickering over our toys, our corner of the sandpit and what colour undies we all have to wear...

    the human race is woefully immature...

    such a pity...

    bring on the Vulcans/Minbari...
  • ArgoneArgone Genuine Klingon
    [quote]Originally posted by shadow boxer:
    [b]first we have to stop bickering over our toys, our corner of the sandpit and what colour undies we all have to wear...

    the human race is woefully immature...

    such a pity...

    bring on the Vulcans/Minbari...[/b][/quote]

    Never happen, another race coming here, they've seen our planet, people and posted a "DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS" sign at the edge of our Solar System!



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    [b]4 Thousand Throats can be cut in one night by a running Warrior[/b]
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    [quote]Originally posted by shadow boxer:
    [b]first we have to stop bickering over...what colour undies we all have to wear...[/b][/quote]

    GREEN! ...of course! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]

    [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img]
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    Purple!

    *Narrator voice on*
    And once again, a thread that seemed to have a hope of producing rational thought degenerated into a slew of seemingly nosensical and endless posts.
    *Narrator voice off*
    [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img]

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    bobo
    <*>
    B5:ITF
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