Jeff Foust has some interesting testimony from the president’s science adviser:
We have been looking at what the best way to resurrect the National Space Council in the White House would be. I think that’s going to happen. There’s no question that the gap in our capacity to put people in space is a matter of great concern with the shuttle program coming to an end and its successor program not yet ready.
That seems like good news. I wonder who will head it. Let’s hope that Joe Biden’s involvement is minimal.
He also lays out rationale for space:
Space is crucial to our national defense; it’s crucial to civil as well as military communications and geopositioning; it’s crucial to weather forecasting and storm monitoring; crucial to observation and scientific study of the condition of our home planet’s land, vegetation, oceans, and atmosphere; and it’s crucial to scientific study and exploration looking outward.
That’s all right, as far as it goes, but no mention of planetary defense or off-planet economic development or resources. There is nothing in there that would support an effort to open up space for the masses, or imply more support for private efforts. Too bad that there was no follow-up questioning in that regard.
As Marburger asked “questions about the vision [VSE] boil down to whether we want to incorporate the Solar System in our economic sphere, or not.” At first glance, the answer from the Obama Administration, is “not.”
Or, “we haven’t given it any thought.”
Or, “we haven’t given it any thought.”
Neither has NASA.
John,
To be fair, lack of evidence is not necessarily evidence of lack. Sure, he didn’t include off-world resources as one of his reasons for investing in space, but that doesn’t mean that he would necessarily be antagonistic to the idea–it may just be that he hasn’t been exposed to any good research in that area. Instead of just assuming the worst about someone in his position, maybe trying to politely educate him might be more effective?
~Jon
Mr. Spudis – Wrong. NASA, and their paymasters, have given space development thought – and decided that they don’t want it.
And if the lack of such development causes us not to be able to stop another Chicxulub, and we all go the way of the dinosaurs? Who cares? The USA was top dog all the way to the end, wasn’t it?
Unfortunately, others have more vision than that – which is why the lingua franca of the Solar System will be Mandarin or perhaps Hindi.