President Trump To NASA: I Want You Back On The Moon, Then Mars Next

[Quetzal]

President Trump To NASA: I Want You Back On The Moon, Then Mars Next

President Donald Trump wants to send the country's astronauts back to the moon. Then once that's done, Trump wants them to aim for Mars next.

Trump vowed on Monday, Dec. 11, that the United States will remain a leader in space exploration.

"We are the leader and we're going to stay the leader, and we're going to increase it many fold," he said in signing Space Policy Directive 1, which sets NASA up for a moon mission with an eye on going to Mars afterward.

I am over joyed to see the president putting effort and focus on the American space program. For those keeping score at home, there are now three racers in the contest to Mars: SpaceX, Boeing, and NASA. Although, it is unclear if NASA will be developing vehicles or if they will contract out to SpaceX or Boeing, but it is exciting nonetheless!

Tagging fellow space nerd @Laika.

 

[Lyndon]

He also proposed cutting NASAs budget to the bone, so its all hot air.

 

[Quetzal]

He also proposed cutting NASAs budget to the bone, so its all hot air.

NASA's budget has taken continuous blows since Kennedy/Johnson. This is not unique to Trump.

 

[sun rise]

If someone is not willing to put money where his mouth is, all we have is a lot of hot, meaningless air.

 

[rosends]

"President Trump To NASA: I Want You Back On The Moon, Then Mars Next"

NASA to Trump -- we feel the same about you!

 

[Quetzal]

If someone is not willing to put money where his mouth is, all we have is a lot of hot, meaningless air.

Come on, seriously? He signed directive for a lunar mission, how you folks not excited by this?! NASA can now begin to put numbers together, plans, training missions, contracts, etc. These are critical first steps. If more resources are needed and Trump denies the budget modifications, we can talk. But let's at least pretend to have something to be excited about!

 

[Quetzal]

Tough crowd!

 

[Vee]

Nothing against the space program, but wouldn't it be better to invest in saving the earth first?

 

[Deathbydefault]

Tough crowd!

We are talking about a man that can make a claim and contradict it in the same sentence.
His word means nothing, and neither do his vows.

Though it would be exciting to see him go through with it.

 

[Quetzal]

Nothing against the space program, but wouldn't it be better to invest in saving the earth first?

A very common, but good, question. The answer is "Yes but..."

We need both. We need a strong space program and a conservative approach to the environmental resources. Great news, though, is we are well on our way regarding renewable energy (even if the administration doesn't want it). More great news, our space technology has grown exponentially over the last 5-7 years. Thankfully, we have government and private enterprises addressing both issues.

 

[Quetzal]

We are talking about a man that can make a claim and contradict it in the same sentence.
His word means nothing, and neither do his vows.

Though it would be exciting to see him go through with it.

To be fair, I am pretty sure this was a campaign platform from the beginning.

 

[Jumi]

President Trump To NASA: I Want You Back On The Moon, Then Mars Next

Trump should put his money where his mouth is... in this case.

 

[Quetzal]

Note to self: move space threads away from political sections.

 

[Politesse]

Well, it's only a space thread if there is, at some point, a space mission. Just about every sitting president says something perky about space missions, but very few are willing to commit themselves to supporting NASA in the execution of same.

 

[sun rise]

Come on, seriously? He signed directive for a lunar mission, how you folks not excited by this?! NASA can now begin to put numbers together, plans, training missions, contracts, etc. These are critical first steps. If more resources are needed and Trump denies the budget modifications, we can talk. But let's at least pretend to have something to be excited about!

I can play "let's pretend" as long as I remember it's not real.

 

[Quetzal]

I can play "let's pretend" as long as I remember it's not real.

Perhaps we could have a more fulfilling discussion about possible time lines, new technologies, possible engineering problems or just general thoughts about space in general. Or you can continue to add to the chorus of "All the Trump does is awful and this doesn't matter". It's up to you.

 

[Nous]

A very common, but good, question. The answer is "Yes but..."

We need both. We need a strong space program and a conservative approach to the environmental resources. Great news, though, is we are well on our way regarding renewable energy (even if the administration doesn't want it). More great news, our space technology has grown exponentially over the last 5-7 years. Thankfully, we have government and private enterprises addressing both issues.

Good answer. However, given the uncertainties at the moment (it seems to me the world is in some sort of political rearrangement--perhaps due to the great recession--and continuing economic uncertainty), the urgency of issues on earth where money needs to be spent, and the fact that there are private enterprises that are willing to explore the possibilities of space travel and Martian colonies, I don't have a problem with declining government funding in this area.

 

[Twilight Hue]

A very common, but good, question. The answer is "Yes but..."

We need both. We need a strong space program and a conservative approach to the environmental resources. Great news, though, is we are well on our way regarding renewable energy (even if the administration doesn't want it). More great news, our space technology has grown exponentially over the last 5-7 years. Thankfully, we have government and private enterprises addressing both issues.

I'm excited to hear the news of a potential Moon and Mars mission.

The joy of Discovery and learning aside, which is important, it would need to be practical reasons that can benefit Earth in some capacity.

A joint government and private venture, might provide viable solutions to our energy problems.


Helium-3 mining on the lunar surface

 

[Quetzal]

A joint government and private venture, might provide viable solutions to our energy problems.

I have a strong suspicion this is where we are going to go. Budget cuts in this area are common and not likely to stop anytime soon. Meanwhile, we will need the private sector to help out.

 

[esmith]

Nothing against the space program, but wouldn't it be better to invest in saving the earth first?

Nah, got to go somewhere when this one is gone