The Future of the American Space Program?

[The Corparation]

To be perfectly frank, I find shooting research probes to assorted planets rather more impressive than launching men into orbit.

It's also gotten us a lot more results than sending people up has gotten so far. That said we need to get on our asses and send people to follow up the probes. A probe can only do so much. Properly equipped and trained an Astronaut can do far more provided you can get him there and back.

[Czechanada]

To be perfectly frank, I find shooting research probes to assorted planets rather more impressive than launching men into orbit.

You know what's even more impressive? Men that can launch into orbit.

[Divair]

To be perfectly frank, I find shooting research probes to assorted planets rather more impressive than launching men into orbit.

You know what's even more impressive? Men that can launch into orbit.

That would be me.

[Imperial Nilfgaard]

You know what's even more impressive? Men that can launch into orbit.

That would be me.

And us.

[Divair]

That would be me.

And us.

No, go away, stop stealing my achievements.

[Grand Britannia]

Project Orion ships.

Project Orion ships everywhere.

[Strykla]

As much as I enjoy the thought of a revived space program, we have more important things to deal with here. Not saying we should just scrap any and all space related projects, but i don't think a space program of a large magnitude is really required or beneficial on a large scale.

phail.

[Trotskylvania]

Project Orion ships.

Project Orion ships everywhere.

Nuclear salt-water rocket > Project Orion

[Grenartia]

Unless Obama gets his shit together, the US Space Program will fall far behind other nations.
Russia especially.

To those who think that the economy comes first, let me remind you that NASA creates jobs. In essence it's a government sanctioned work program like the kind of FDR used to help get us out of the depression. Only this time instead of making parks we get to go to space.

Government spending can help fix the economy!

This is the only thing we'll ever agree on.

Indeed.

[Norstal]

NASA has made strives despite its budget cuts. How did Russia get ahead than the U.S in terms of space exploration, precisely?

I mean, I knew people who got hired by JPL. So although they might not be swimming in money, they're not exactly sinking either.

At present, Russia is the only nation capable of transporting people into space. As a Great Souled American, we find this unacceptable.

That's...progress?

We did that 50 years ago. It isn't something exactly new. I was hoping you meant something like the discovery of new celestial bodies or new engineering triumphs. Which NASA totally did.

[Grand Britannia]

Project Orion ships.

Project Orion ships everywhere.

Nuclear salt-water rocket > Project Orion

Why not both?

[The Corparation]

Project Orion ships.

Project Orion ships everywhere.

Nuclear salt-water rocket > Project Orion

Orion has several advantages over Nuclear Thermal rockets. Also do you have any better uses for nuclear warheads?

[Trotskylvania]

Nuclear salt-water rocket > Project Orion

Why not both?

Because the nuclear salt-water rocket is better in everyway. Higher exhaust velocity, no need for heavy pusher plates, not need for hydraulic system to lessen the jolt from detonations.

It's essentially a continuously detonating Orion drive with the advantage of even better reaction mass characteristics.

[The Corparation]

Why not both?

Because the nuclear salt-water rocket is better in everyway. Higher exhaust velocity, no need for heavy pusher plates, not need for hydraulic system to lessen the jolt from detonations.

It's essentially a continuously detonating Orion drive with the advantage of even better reaction mass characteristics.

The Thrust to Weight ratio is shit though for most nuclear rocket engines though. Not that I think we should make regular Orion Launches, but the occasional Orion launching from a remote location would serve as a valuable launch platform. You're sending up hundreds of tons at once which means you don't need to make many launches to get the job done. In addition to luanching from a remote location lolhuge SRBs could also be used to get it high enoguh up to minimize fallout before the first detonation.

EDIT: After a bit more reading It seems I had my Nuclear Engines confused. Nuclear Salt Water Rcokets are pretty good but unlike Orion I haven't seen any ways on how you would minimize radiation from a ground launch. The people behind Orion on the other hand had some very comprhensive plans on how to reduce fallout, as well as studies done that showed the effects of the fallout based on the fallout from Nuclear tests. (Which I might add are a lot dirtier than an Orion Pulse Unit would be)

[Hatsunia]

Unless Obama gets his shit together, the US Space Program will fall far behind other nations.
Russia especially.

To those who think that the economy comes first, let me remind you that NASA creates jobs. In essence it's a government sanctioned work program like the kind of FDR used to help get us out of the depression. Only this time instead of making parks we get to go to space.

Government spending can help fix the economy!

I recently learned about the New Deal, and before that, I learned that NASA puts back $8 into the economy for every dollar spent on it. That's a nice connection.

[Imperial Nilfgaard]

Unless Obama gets his shit together, the US Space Program will fall far behind other nations.
Russia especially.

To those who think that the economy comes first, let me remind you that NASA creates jobs. In essence it's a government sanctioned work program like the kind of FDR used to help get us out of the depression. Only this time instead of making parks we get to go to space.

Government spending can help fix the economy!

I recently learned about the New Deal, and before that, I learned that NASA puts back $8 into the economy for every dollar spent on it. That's a nice connection.

Thank you.

[Freedom of United Trevor]

Now NASA will published the information they collected from Mars and the Moon by 2014.

[The Corparation]

Now NASA will published the information they collected from Mars and the Moon by 2014.

Umm what? NASA already publishes almost all the work from their various programs.

[Strykla]

Why not both?

Because the nuclear salt-water rocket is better in everyway. Higher exhaust velocity, no need for heavy pusher plates, not need for hydraulic system to lessen the jolt from detonations.

It's essentially a continuously detonating Orion drive with the advantage of even better reaction mass characteristics.

Except mass. Just like liquid oxygen or hydrogen, water is one of the bulkiest fuels you can use. VASIMR>everything else

[Divair]

Now NASA will published the information they collected from Mars and the Moon by 2014.

All data is published as it is processed.

[Pope Joan]

I am here in cocoa Beach FL today. It is a sad, depressed place. Kennedy Space Center gives tours. There's a Canaveral Air Force base. That's about it.

Some overpriced tourist traps.

Decent seafood.

Future? Private sector, obviously.

[Yandere Schoolgirls]

Unless Obama gets his shit together, the US Space Program will fall far behind other nations.
Russia especially.

To those who think that the economy comes first, let me remind you that NASA creates jobs. In essence it's a government sanctioned work program like the kind of FDR used to help get us out of the depression. Only this time instead of making parks we get to go to space.

Government spending can help fix the economy!

I recently learned about the New Deal, and before that, I learned that NASA puts back $8 into the economy for every dollar spent on it. That's a nice connection.

If that were true then NASA would be in surplus, not massive debt.

[Frisivisia]

I recently learned about the New Deal, and before that, I learned that NASA puts back $8 into the economy for every dollar spent on it. That's a nice connection.

If that were true then NASA would be in surplus, not massive debt.

Do you have a source that says that NASA is in debt?

[Napkiraly]

I recently learned about the New Deal, and before that, I learned that NASA puts back $8 into the economy for every dollar spent on it. That's a nice connection.

If that were true then NASA would be in surplus, not massive debt.

I think he's talking about the commercial use of NASA technology, achievements, etc.

[Priory Academy USSR]

Now NASA will published the information they collected from Mars and the Moon by 2014.

Umm what? NASA already publishes almost all the work from their various programs.

Yeah, but conspiracy. *nods*