Armstrong to NASA: You're Embarrassing

ARMSTRONG TO NASA: YOU'RE EMBARRASSING

news.discovery.com

Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, told lawmakers Thursday that the end of the space shuttle era has left the American human spaceflight program in an "embarrassing" state.

"We will have no American access to, and return from, low Earth orbit and the International Space Station for an unpredictable length of time in the future," Armstrong told the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

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Well, it may little to anyone born after 1970, but this man was and remains a national hero.

It appears very stark that a man who represent the living memory of one of the finest moments in American history, pointing out the decay and fall of the organization responsible for crowning technical achievement of the 20th century.

"For a country that has invested so much for so long to achieve a leadership position in space exploration and exploitation, this condition is viewed by many as lamentably embarrassing and unacceptable."

Armstrong was part of a four-member panel of space experts who told lawmakers that NASA needs a stronger vision for the future and should focus on returning humans to the moon and to the International Space Station.

"A lead, however earnestly and expensively won, once lost, is nearly impossible to regain," said the US astronaut, now 81, who was commander of Apollo 11 and walked on the moon in 1969.

news.discovery.com
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"We will have no American access to, and return from, low Earth orbit and the International Space Station for an unpredictable length of time in the future," Armstrong told the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

If that's true, what about this from last year?

NASA Signs New $335 Million Deal to Fly Astronauts on Russian Spaceships
www.space.com...

NASA has signed a new $335 million contract with Russia to buy six extra seats on Soyuz spacecraft to launch ?American and partner astronauts into space after the space shuttle fleet is retired, the space agency announced Tuesday.

The new deal allows NASA to pay the Russian Federal Space Agency for six round-trip rides to and from the International Space Station in 2013 and 2014. That averages to about $55.8 million per trip ? a slight increase from the $50 million NASA paid for seats on the Russian-built Soyuz spacecraft through 2012.

NASA has become bloated and very political.

It needs to be shut down or completely reorganized.

When 30 guys at an old desert airstrip can do what NASA does for pennies on the dollar and with a perfect safety record, you have a problem.

Like all government agencies once they reach a certain size they exist only to serve themselves.

reply to post by JibbyJedi


Indeed.

Or how about they just disclose the UFO technology? Or what about Virgin Galactic?

reply to post by JibbyJedi

Yes, American astronauts have to catch a Russian cab.
They can't drive themselves. That's the point. He didn't say Americans won't be in space. He said there will not be American access to space.

Max, I feel the same way as Armstrong does. It was far beyond stupid to retire the Space Shuttle program without a viable replacement ready to step in. The bad thing is, NASA's next incarnation of space travel doesnt even include a vehicle for low earth orbit! The Shuttle replacement is designed to go to asteroids and Mars, but no love for the Moon...

reply to post by JibbyJedi

If that's true, what about this from last year?

Your post answers your own question.

"We will have no American access to, and return from, low Earth orbit and the International Space Station for an unpredictable length of time in the future,"

Yes, American astronauts will have Russian access to the ISS. Riding a Soyuz into LEO is not using American access.

Originally posted by Phage
reply to post by JibbyJedi

 

Yes, American astronauts have to catch a Russian cab.
They can't drive themselves. That's the point. He didn't say Americans won't be in space. He said there will not be American access to space.

edit on 9/23/2011 by Phage because: (no reason given)

You're arguing semantics, Americans have already paid for their access to space, that's what the article states. No it's not on "their" shuttles, but they still are getting out there.

Regardless, it's all just smoke and mirrors for the public to drink up and absorb. I've seen the kind of technology that already exists, as in TR-3B types, if NASA is ignoring or denying that stuff exists, then they are straight up liars as far as we should be concerned.

Originally posted by Phage
reply to post by JibbyJedi

 

Yes, American astronauts have to catch a Russian cab.
They can't drive themselves. That's the point. He didn't say Americans won't be in space. He said there will not be American access to space.

edit on 9/23/2011 by Phage because: (no reason given)

I think the word 'taxi' has been used loosely on this sensitive topic. Privatised companies are being co-hersed into stumping up said cash for such future of space travel...I'm happy with that as long as it progresses and happens.

This is such BS! The goverment is going to pick up the tab for to big to fail banks, General Moters/Goverment Moters and freddy/ Fanny may, and they drop the space program! Every time i think about it it makes me outraged!

It mankinds must strongest urge, to explore and expand knowledge and Bush/Obama distroy it!

reply to post by JibbyJedi

You're arguing semantics, Americans have already paid for their access to space, that's what the article states. No it's not on "their" shuttles, but they still are getting out there.

Yes, America paid its way to space with Apollo and STS, and we should be proud of what we developed. The Soyuz is a product of Russian enginuity and dedication, not American.

Essentially it would be like the Owner of Ferarri Corp. having to drive a KIA to and from work.

Do you all seriously believe the U.S will be left behind by other countries when it comes to space?

Get real people, they are undoubtedly working on some black project whilst portraying an image of space technology retardedness.

Like they will allow the Russians or Chinese to have the upper hand.

They probably have technology in place that would shock even the the most avid Star Trek fan.

Don't worry peeps merkans are not going to let anyone else into their 'Space' (pun)...No use getting angry about it...they will just fund it in a different way!!

Could be better all round...who knows/ as long as someone carries on the work and we get out there and explore...whats the worry?...Could be China and Merka, could be China, Russia, Merka....

You're missing the point...Space Exploration is terrifically important...whoever funds it...does it matter?

reply to post by Maxmars


Why go to space when the elite can control the population from earth? You dont escape this plannet. You dont even have the hope that your space program can invent a way off this planet because you no longer even have a space program. It is a prison plannet.

reply to post by AGWskeptic


Yeah.. we definitely need a new space program. Sad, but true.

Originally posted by GogoVicMorrow
reply to post by AGWskeptic

 

Yeah.. we definitely need a new space program. Sad, but true.

We need to replace NASA, with a National 'Hyperspace' Agency. Which uses field-antigravity to launch & land, and f-t-l to travel.

Originally posted by GogoVicMorrow
reply to post by AGWskeptic

 

Yeah.. we definitely need a new space program. Sad, but true.

The space program is fine..........The problem(my own opinion here) seems to be that every president changes the agenda and cancelations are made after billions have been spent.......The director of Nasa has a hard time adjusting to the constant changes in the agenda..........Which programs to cancel and which to cut back......

That sucks.

NASA falls like everything else. Could be one of the big contributors too.

The people that went to the moon 40 years ago know a hell of a lot more than what they would have you believe. Its not that they don't want to share information with the public, its the theory that they have signed non-disclosure agrements preventing them to disclose the possiblity of alien life on our moon and solar system in general.

Yes NASA is an embarrassment for america and its citizens but NASA is an executive branch of the government and technically belongs to the DOD. That means any information can be deemed classified and people would be non the wiser.

Of course its part of the grand conspiracy and everyone should feel a sucker for paying them to keep secrets from us. At this point its probably a good idea that they abandoned the shuttle missions given the fact we are having our medicare/medicaid and social security payments threatened.

If they can't do things properly they might as well not exist!