I believe President Obama could not be more correct, again. Commercial aviation companies have won awards for taking space flight into private enterprise. Why should the USA government have a monopoly on the future?
More jobs. More opportunity. More talent bringing space programs innovation at a quicker pace. It is time to turn space over to private enterprise. Space ventures will expand the monies being spent by NASA to include the funds private investors can bring to the programs.
The time will come when NASA will again seek ventures to the Moon, Mars and beyond. But, it is time to allow the private sector to take their options as far as can be realized. I wish everyone the very best of luck and look forward to an Earth focus for NASA in the meantime.
NASA to explore private space flight (click here)
Last Updated: Monday, February 1, 2010 | 12:57 PM ET
NASA will get nearly $6 billion to encourage private companies to launch their own spacecraft under the budget proposed by the Obama administration Monday.U.S. President Barack Obama's budget would cut NASA's planned mission to the moon, called the Constellation program, which Obama called "over budget, behind schedule and lacking in innovation."NASA has already spent $9 billion on the Constellation program, which began after the 2003 shuttle accident, including the test launch of the Ares 1-X rocket in October.
The budget would provide $5.9 billion to the agency over the next five years to fund private space-flight companies.
The budget's commitment to NASA is $100 billion over the next five years.
Under the plan, NASA would pay the companies to carry U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station and other destinations in orbit.
NASA would then be a guaranteed customer for the private space companies through 2020. Proponents of private space flight point out the parallel with the early days of air travel, when private airlines had a guaranteed customer in the U.S. government to deliver airmail....
