To Boldly Go Where We've Already Been

Interesting AP story (via PhysOrg) about a "new plan" from NASA's Space Shuttle program manager to ditch the troubled Ares rocket and go with a vehicle based on existing Shuttle technology as the booster for a return to the Moon. It's not a bad idea. There are several directions I can go with 'blogging about it.

1.  Cheerleading: Hooray! A better rocket! Onward to the Moon! I do think space exploration is valuable and important, and any capability is better than none at all. But see below.

2.  Carping About Sloppy Reporting:  This idea isn't new. The concept of "shuttle-derived" boosters has been around as long as the Shuttle itself. Mr. Shannon certainly didn't come up with it -- he just chose an opportune moment to drop it into the space policy debate. Does everyone at the Associated Press have the historical awareness of mayflies?

3.  Carping About Low Expectations:  Humans have been to the Moon. We did it forty years ago. Shouldn't we be aiming higher? It's as if NASA has fallen victim to the same syndrome that plagues Hollywood: instead of something new they're simply planning a big-budget remake of a past hit. Maybe they should take the advice of a man who's been there and start working seriously on a Mars project instead. 

Comments

[Barry]

Hey Zygote, I just played a game of Bone Wars! I met you all some years back at the Chicago toy and games expo, I even had James and Diane sign my pack and I finagled an empty display box too. Hope all is well!