The Briefing Room
General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Space => Topic started by: Suppressed on January 10, 2018, 06:10:32 pm
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Nasa wants government to stop hitting reset button after Trump admin shifts target from Mars to Moon
Nasa's government-initiated shift from Mars to the Moon has not gone down well with the space community.
By Immanuel Jotham
Updated January 10, 2018 14:14 GMT
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/nasa-wants-government-stop-hitting-reset-button-after-trump-admin-shifts-target-mars-moon-1654510 (http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/nasa-wants-government-stop-hitting-reset-button-after-trump-admin-shifts-target-mars-moon-1654510)
Nasa has been ordered by the administration of US President Donald Trump to go back to the Moon instead of focusing on Mars, leaving experts baffled as to what this would accomplish.
The impact this order will have on Mars missions and the investment and research that have gone into various projects under directions from the previous government is being questioned by the space community.
The acting administrator of Nasa, Robert Lightfoot, speaking to the Washington Post, offered few details as to the timeline, partner companies and countries that will be involved in the Moon mission. He said details will emerge when the president places the annual budget request before Congress.
According to the Washington Post, one of the biggest challenges Nasa has faced in recent years is not in terms of technological development, but rather dealing with the orders of politicians and flat budgets. This major shift in focus of the human spaceflight programme is happening for the third time in as many government changes.
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