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Offline Suppressed

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Scientists cautiously back Trump’s moon plan
« on: December 18, 2017, 04:36:48 pm »
Scientists cautiously back Trump’s moon plan
A surprise White House announcement caught experts on the hop, but many see its potential. Richard A Lovett reports.
19 DECEMBER 2017
https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/scientists-cautiously-back-trump-s-moon-plan


In a White House announcement early last week, US President Donald Trump startled space scientists by issuing a directive announcing a U.S. intention to return to the Moon “and other destinations.”

“This time we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprint,” he said, “we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars and perhaps someday to many worlds beyond.”

The announcement drew support from NASA, aerospace proponents, and Congressmen Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who chairs the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. “This administration's dedication to space is a refreshing change from the past eight years,” said Smith.

Even SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who parted ways with Trump last summer over climate change, tweeted his approval. “It’s high time that humanity went beyond Earth,” he wrote.

But not everyone is as sanguine. Many Americans view their President as flighty, lacking on follow-through.

[...]
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Offline driftdiver

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Re: Scientists cautiously back Trump’s moon plan
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2017, 04:42:19 pm »
Heck getting a man into orbit would be a nice step.
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Offline truth_seeker

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Re: Scientists cautiously back Trump’s moon plan
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2017, 05:05:21 pm »
The way our society has been going backwards, in some regards, makes me wonder if we could simply repeat what we already did?

My college geology professor planned to be an astronaut and go into space, on later trips.

Then they cut budgets, and he went into teaching. 
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Offline kidd

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Re: Scientists cautiously back Trump’s moon plan
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2017, 03:27:33 pm »
I am still deeply impressed that we got 12 men on the moon, and an additional 13 to orbit the moon (2 men went twice), and back alive, using 1960s technology.

First of all, the NASA engineers were geniuses. All of them. The concept, the design, the construction, the execution. All of it.
Second, the astronauts were incredibly brave
Third, politics was never an issue that interfered with the missions. They survived the Johnson and Nixon administrations - two of the worst presidents ever.
Fourth, quality assurance was WAY ahead of its time. With little redundancy and mostly no escape systems, everything had to function perfectly.

And it will STILL be a challenge to repeat this feat, 50 years later.
I suspect the politics will be the greatest impediment to a successful return to the moon.
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Offline driftdiver

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Re: Scientists cautiously back Trump’s moon plan
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2017, 03:36:00 pm »
I'd be hesitant to drive across town with the limited navigational tools they had going to the moon. 
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Offline kevindavis007

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Re: Scientists cautiously back Trump’s moon plan
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2017, 12:46:06 am »
I support this 100%. However, I saw this on space posts on FB and a lot of people hate it. I think it has to do with Trump.
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Offline dfwgator

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Re: Scientists cautiously back Trump’s moon plan
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2017, 01:15:34 am »
Quote from: kevindavis on December 20, 2017, 12:46:06 am
I support this 100%. However, I saw this on space posts on FB and a lot of people hate it. I think it has to do with Trump.


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