It's probably apparent that I love it as well.
I can detach myself enough to see how the entire space shuttle-ISS loop is a closed boondoggle. Designed over time through shifting requirements, the (initially dubious anyway) science value of the ISS has vastly degraded. The shuttle is (often quoted as) the most complex machine ever built. That means that even here at the end of its life, it's still experimental. A lot of money has been spent achieving exactly the opposite of the original vision of a shuttle-space station system.
I know this. I'm not stupid.
I agree with you here. I have often said that NASA suffers from being a government agency which means it dances at the whim of congressmen and public opinion.
The Space shuttle is a perfect example of how a good idea gets perverted and mutated into a farce of its original intention. Unfortunately the same is happening to the ISS.
Better science can be done if NASA was not pulled in several directions at once and it's budget continually cut year after year.
Back in Apollo's time NASA was given a mandated and left to it's own, more or less, to a specific task. And it did it spectacularly. It had a few setbacks, but that's to be expected when you are doing something for the first time.
The best thing to do is tell NASA what you want it to do and then let it do it without political interference.
I also know that some advocates of private-sector spaceflight are overly optimistic about the current capabilities of the private sector. Rutan and Bigelow have been startling successes. That video of our laser-powered climber even counts amongst these (for reasons other than the space elevator). However... all these attempts are still a loooong way from what the biggest government agencies are currently capable of, and may be for some time into the future. For example, NO private attempt has put a human-capable spacecraft into orbit. That's a rather big obstacle.
I agree. About three quarters of those companies I mention will either dissapear or loose interest as the years go on. But a few smart and dedicated ones will persever.
I know these are all long term projects and will probably not be viable for several decades. But you have to start somewhere. The sooner you start the sooner the innovations come and the sooner the infrastructur will become available.
I have alot of faith in our ability to innovate and overcome obstacles. History provide many examples.
And Burt Rutan is planning on working towards an orbital flight.
Little steps.
Anyway, now I'm just rambling. I'm with Uruk, but I'm capable of seeing the validity in some of the points JJM might like to make...
I love these spacecraft, anyway!
I can see JJM's arguments too. And the way things have been run haven't been up to par lately. But you can't simply give it up alltogether. You also have to look at the bigger picture down the road.
I just heard on the news this morning that China and India plan to send probes to the moon. Japan already has an probe orbiting the moon and China already sent a guy up. (sub orbital I think).
More power to them. I'm all for any country going into space or the moon.
I'd just hate to think that we would become complacent and let the rest of the world leave us behind. Remember what happened to Portugal
