Ultimately, its NASA's job to sell a vision to...

2010-10-18T21:01:56.329-07:00

Ultimately, its NASA's job to sell a vision to the public, the President, and Congress. In the late 60's, Johnson had already cut the funding before we ever landed on the moon. The political climate was such that "moon type" funding was not going to continue. NASA wanted a moon base, a space station, a shuttle, and a planned Mars mission. There was no way NASA was going to win that battle, but they persisted and nearly lost the entire manned program to Nixon. Then, had to make compromise after compromise on the Shuttle. They gave up too easily on the Saturn 1B and CSM which would be a fateful decision. That would cost us Skylab, and continued refinement of that platform along with public interest and support.

I agree that the lawmakers are out of touch, but I think the bigger miss was in NASA's court. They pressed on with bigger missions when they knew it couldn't be sold. The climate of the late 60's wouldn't support it. The 70's would be become a near total loss under Nixon, Ford, and Carter. Had they hung on to the Saturn 1B until 1980. Better times would have been found under Reagan

You say... NASA has a long history of being out of...

2010-10-14T16:51:19.460-07:00

You say... NASA has a long history of being out of step with the political climate... but I would argue that the politicians have a long history of being out of step with the vision of NASA!

I did a similar presidential breakdown on my blog aways back, about how each one tanked something or other... but you were far kinder than I! ;)

Comments on The Conquest of Space: NASA Plans: Asteroid or Bust

Ultimately, its NASA's job to sell a vision to...

You say... NASA has a long history of being out of...