Philosophy
Get real Mr. Bolden...you are wearing horse blinders and not understanding NASA's current position and economic reality.
NASA chief Charles Bolden vowed to produce a detailed plan to develop the technology needed to get astronauts to Mars after lawmakers blasted the agency's lack of clear goals at a congressional hearing on Wednesday.
On 1 February, Bolden announced the president's intention to cancel the Constellation programme, which was tasked with developing rockets and other hardware to return humans to the moon.
In the agency's proposed 2011 budget, the White House did not specify where NASA would go instead but funded work on new technologies for space flight and encouraged the development of commercial space taxis to transport astronauts to the International Space Station.
The new plan faced criticism from lawmakers on Wednesday at a hearing of the US Senate's Science and Space subcommittee – Bolden's first congressional hearing since the plan was announced.
Solar system exploration
Subcommittee chairman Bill Nelson of Florida, a Democrat, said the proposal "gave the perception that the president was killing the manned space programme" and left the agency's new goals unclear. "The president, either himself or through [the NASA] administrator needs to clearly state what the goal is," he said.
Bolden responded that Mars is "the ultimate destination for human space exploration", and said that the agency would soon have a more detailed plan to develop the technology needed to get there. "We'll develop a plan over the coming months," he said, insisting there had not been enough time since the announcement to create "a complete plan on something as important as how we get deeper into the solar system".
Nelson did not reject the new plan outright, pointing to "more positive things" within it, such as the funding boost for technology research and development.
Heavy-lift rocket
But he said he is concerned that there is relatively little money available in the new budget to develop a powerful "heavy-lift" rocket needed to send astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit.
In response, Bolden referred to the possibility of setting up fuel depots in orbit, which could enable smaller rockets to make trips beyond low-Earth orbit. But he also said the agency may eventually ramp up its investments in more powerful rockets. "There will come a time when I will ask for more money on heavy lift," he said.
The new plan is just a proposal so far. It will be implemented only if Congress votes to approve the budget requested by the White House.
Getting that approval will be a challenge. Subcommittee member David Vitter of Louisiana, a Republican, said he would "fight with every ounce of energy I have" against the plan, which he said would "surrender ... our world leadership in this area".
- First An Asteroid...then Mars--crazy
This is not a good idea...period. "Obama Aims to Send Astronauts to an Asteroid, Then to Mars" by Tariq Malik April 15th, 2010 SPACE.com President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping new space vision for NASA and the United States Thursday, one that...
- Nasa's Challenge
I don't see the big issue here. Cut or limit man in space and concentrate on probes and the like. "For NASA no easy answer for next space destination" by Seth Borenstein February 22nd, 2010 USA TODAY Where to next? It's a simple question that...
- Obama's Smart Move
This is a smart move by the Obama administration. It is time that many of NASA's projects be curtailed or placed in outside competent contractors and a realization in these economic times that trips to the moon and Mars are unreasonable and fraught...
- New Nasa Administrator...charles Bolden
Finally, the United States has a NASA leader. He will have a lot of tough decisions to make with the economy in shambles and an aged low altitude space ship fleet. "Uncertain NASA gets familiar former astronaut boss" by Seth Borenstein May 25th, 2009...
- Nasa Administrator...do We Have A Winner?
Maj. Gen. Charlie Bolden "Bolden Reacts To Reports of His Impending NASA Nomination" by Becky Iannotta May 15th, 2009 space.com WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama's science adviser told Congress May 14 a NASA administrator will be announced...
Philosophy
Charles Bolden is blind
Get real Mr. Bolden...you are wearing horse blinders and not understanding NASA's current position and economic reality.
"Embattled NASA chief vows to outline path to Mars"
by
David Shiga
February 25th, 2010
NewScientist
by
David Shiga
February 25th, 2010
NewScientist
NASA chief Charles Bolden vowed to produce a detailed plan to develop the technology needed to get astronauts to Mars after lawmakers blasted the agency's lack of clear goals at a congressional hearing on Wednesday.
On 1 February, Bolden announced the president's intention to cancel the Constellation programme, which was tasked with developing rockets and other hardware to return humans to the moon.
In the agency's proposed 2011 budget, the White House did not specify where NASA would go instead but funded work on new technologies for space flight and encouraged the development of commercial space taxis to transport astronauts to the International Space Station.
The new plan faced criticism from lawmakers on Wednesday at a hearing of the US Senate's Science and Space subcommittee – Bolden's first congressional hearing since the plan was announced.
Solar system exploration
Subcommittee chairman Bill Nelson of Florida, a Democrat, said the proposal "gave the perception that the president was killing the manned space programme" and left the agency's new goals unclear. "The president, either himself or through [the NASA] administrator needs to clearly state what the goal is," he said.
Bolden responded that Mars is "the ultimate destination for human space exploration", and said that the agency would soon have a more detailed plan to develop the technology needed to get there. "We'll develop a plan over the coming months," he said, insisting there had not been enough time since the announcement to create "a complete plan on something as important as how we get deeper into the solar system".
Nelson did not reject the new plan outright, pointing to "more positive things" within it, such as the funding boost for technology research and development.
Heavy-lift rocket
But he said he is concerned that there is relatively little money available in the new budget to develop a powerful "heavy-lift" rocket needed to send astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit.
In response, Bolden referred to the possibility of setting up fuel depots in orbit, which could enable smaller rockets to make trips beyond low-Earth orbit. But he also said the agency may eventually ramp up its investments in more powerful rockets. "There will come a time when I will ask for more money on heavy lift," he said.
The new plan is just a proposal so far. It will be implemented only if Congress votes to approve the budget requested by the White House.
Getting that approval will be a challenge. Subcommittee member David Vitter of Louisiana, a Republican, said he would "fight with every ounce of energy I have" against the plan, which he said would "surrender ... our world leadership in this area".
- First An Asteroid...then Mars--crazy
This is not a good idea...period. "Obama Aims to Send Astronauts to an Asteroid, Then to Mars" by Tariq Malik April 15th, 2010 SPACE.com President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping new space vision for NASA and the United States Thursday, one that...
- Nasa's Challenge
I don't see the big issue here. Cut or limit man in space and concentrate on probes and the like. "For NASA no easy answer for next space destination" by Seth Borenstein February 22nd, 2010 USA TODAY Where to next? It's a simple question that...
- Obama's Smart Move
This is a smart move by the Obama administration. It is time that many of NASA's projects be curtailed or placed in outside competent contractors and a realization in these economic times that trips to the moon and Mars are unreasonable and fraught...
- New Nasa Administrator...charles Bolden
Finally, the United States has a NASA leader. He will have a lot of tough decisions to make with the economy in shambles and an aged low altitude space ship fleet. "Uncertain NASA gets familiar former astronaut boss" by Seth Borenstein May 25th, 2009...
- Nasa Administrator...do We Have A Winner?
Maj. Gen. Charlie Bolden "Bolden Reacts To Reports of His Impending NASA Nomination" by Becky Iannotta May 15th, 2009 space.com WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama's science adviser told Congress May 14 a NASA administrator will be announced...