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from the To-the-Moon,-Alice!-To-the-Moon! dept.
No more sending humans to an asteroid. We're going back to the Moon:
The policy calls for the NASA administrator to "lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities." The effort will more effectively organize government, private industry, and international efforts toward returning humans on the Moon, and will lay the foundation that will eventually enable human exploration of Mars.
"The directive I am signing today will refocus America's space program on human exploration and discovery," said President Trump. "It marks a first step in returning American astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, for long-term exploration and use. This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints -- we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond."
The policy grew from a unanimous recommendation by the new National Space Council, chaired by Vice President Mike Pence, after its first meeting Oct. 5. In addition to the direction to plan for human return to the Moon, the policy also ends NASA's existing effort to send humans to an asteroid. The president revived the National Space Council in July to advise and help implement his space policy with exploration as a national priority.
President's remarks and White House release.
Presidential Memorandum on Reinvigorating America's Human Space Exploration Program
Also at Reuters and New Scientist.
Previously: Should We Skip Mars for Now and Go to the Moon Again?
How to Get Back to the Moon in 4 Years, Permanently
NASA Eyeing Mini Space Station in Lunar Orbit as Stepping Stone to Mars
NASA and Roscosmos Sign Joint Statement on the Development of a Lunar Space Station
Bigelow and ULA to Put Inflatable Module in Orbit Around the Moon by 2022
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday December 12 2017, @10:31PM (8 children)
I seem to remember a similar proclamation from W... if Trump is lucky enough to stay out of a major military conflict, this might just get enough traction to launch a few guys.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @10:42PM
And then what? Collect some rocks. Take a photo of Earth. Hang out for a couple days. Maybe lose a couple astronauts on re-entry.
-1 would not do again
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 13 2017, @07:18AM (1 child)
Does nuclear war with NK count as a major military conflict?
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday December 13 2017, @09:12PM
That would count, but I personally rate the saber rattling on both sides as unconvincing - unnerving, immature, and extremely worrying, but ultimately unconvincing that either would really follow through.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday December 13 2017, @04:58PM (4 children)
Trump is a guy that can be Tweet baited into a major military conflict.
To the surprise of his staff who won't find out about it until it is BREAKING NEWS !!!
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(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday December 13 2017, @09:15PM (3 children)
I think you need to define major. I doubt he has the power and political support to do much more than send a few SEAL teams, or a couple of drone strikes per day... basically business as usual. If he tried to reinstate the draft and launch a ground assault on Kabul... that might not actually happen.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday December 13 2017, @10:13PM (2 children)
I would define major as:
* some action Trump could take
* without his daycare minders noticing
* that would start a conflict
* which escalates into a major conflict
* requiring major commitments of resources from the US and possibly other allies
and if he's as 'clever' as I think . . .
* escalates into a nuclear conflict
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(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday December 13 2017, @10:25PM (1 child)
I have some amount of faith in his babysitters, a lot of them are the same crew that has been in place through Obama, Bush, and even before.
Not saying he can't completely piss off the world with a tweet, or send a SEAL team or two on missions that are a very bad idea before he gets stopped, just that even the DPRK has babysitters who make sure their fearless leader's rhetoric doesn't translate into a "very bad thing" for themselves and their children.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday December 13 2017, @10:36PM
I truly hope that is the case.
I never would have thought it. The fact I have to hope for babysitters to do their jobs in preventing childish tantrums is not something I expected to ever see the United States devolve into.
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