Monday, April 16, 2012

We Stopped Dreaming


1 comment:

  1. Better promotion, less bureaucracy, better trained, more creative engineers and scientists is what's needed to get NASA and the Space Program back on track.

    NASA is extremely ineffective at selling the space program to the public. As stated, we do not have fear connecting us and propelling us forward toward a common goal. Today, people are not aware of the multitudes of technological developments initiated for the Space Program that spun off and trickled down into our everyday lives. It's really sad that most folks are not aware of what the Space Program have done for them.

    And, perhaps we take technology for granted now. We needed to be reminded that there's so much we don't know. NASA needs to harness, if not our natural curiosity than, our greed. People want and want. Technological developments through space exploration is one of the fastest ways to technological advancements.

    Another major hurdle NASA needs to overcome is its own bureaucracy. NASA doesn't create, design, or build anything. Everything is contracted out. Parts of contracts are contracted which are contracted. It would be interesting to research the history of the bureaucracy from the early days to present day.

    Finally, NASA and, even more so, space contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, USA need better educated and more creative engineers and scientists. Personally, I have little to no confidence our present day folks could pull off an Apollo 13. We need critical thinkers and problem solvers.

    I was driven half mad hearing of delays and budget overruns with the Constellation Program and returning to the moon. Call me crazy, but how exactly can it be so difficult to create a vehicle to take us to the moon, when we already have the Saturn V! We've already traveled to the moon! And, yet, we can't figure out how to do it again? So much waste! NASA deserved a smack on the hand.

    But, I'm not worried. I'm not worried at all about a manned space program existing or not. I know it will. Small private companies are running full speed ahead developing new space craft. It's really rather exciting. I'd like to NASA rally. I'd like for us to have our "official" U.S. Space Program back shining brightly. But this private stuff is kinda fun too.

    Just my two cents, anyway...

    I'm very connected to the Space Program... lol :)

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