SpaceShip Two begins captive carry flight testing

[Cratermaker]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...&channel=space

[Ken Stallings]

With the administration's recent decision to cancel NASA's Constellation manned program, this civilian operation might be the only US manned space program for the next ten to twenty years!

I'm thrilled for Rutan and Co.

I'm angry and very concerned for NASA!

Ken

[cheezyflier]

it seems that some of the greenies and others have successfully run their smear campaign to convince people that the space program was a waste of $$.

if only they realized how much of our every day technology was born from space research they might change their minds.

[Lionheart]

I think we frankly cant afford it anymore. Its just too expensive to run as a government operation.

Rutan has been saying that the space race will advance if its commercialised. It will accellerate beyond our wildest dreams.

The government first had computers for warships back in WWII or earlier. It was used for warships cannons. When they let it go to the private sector, it accellerated in uses. When it went into gaming, it skyrocketed.

I think we could do better by making shuttles and so on via the private sector. We would minimize costs, not asking fortunes for simple parts.


Thats Rutans theory and I agree with him on that.



Bill

[Terry]

Private space exploration may work in some countries but not in the US. The gov and green people would regulate them out of business. We can't even build a new power plant!

[cheezyflier]

I think we frankly cant afford it anymore. Its just too expensive to run as a government operation.

i disagree with this. i feel we can't afford NOT to fund it. it's (in my mind) less about space than the technology developed as we explore it. as this technology begins to be developed byu commercial enterprises, it's applications will be delayed until every avenue is explored as a possible revenue stream, and a huge team of lawyers have made sure it is patented beyond imagining. then the greenies will have to have their say. after that the lawyers and the bean counters will have a never ending debate of the possible value in income vs. the percieved liability. then there are stockholders to consider. they want immediate returns.
r & d costs money, and sometimes returns on the investments come much later. i am afraid much of the future in technological advancement will be mired in stagnation with this course we are currently on.
just my opinion, ymmv. however, i don't trust corporations and big businesses to be altruistic or even fair mminded. history has already proved otherwise.

[Snuffy]

I think we frankly cant afford it anymore. Its just too expensive to run as a government operation. ...

Bill

Actually it as well as many other things can be very easily funded by the U.S. Gov.

Of course much of the rest of the world would get a little sore once we stop dumping dollars into their countries. Just stopping the funding of the UN would more than adequately pay for this and more.