September 7, 2008 at 00:15Space rogue
NASA is seriously worried about the future of its space program.
Relations between the United States and Russia have noticeably worsened since the recent hostilities in the Caucasus, the echoes of the new Cold War have already sounded on the American continent and not just anywhere, but in NASA itself, which is seriously concerned about the future of its space program.
The manned space program for the Americans is not just the result of technological progress, it is something more, like a national idea. George W. Bush’s latest election campaign was largely based on ambitious promises to conquer space and repeat the success of the Apollo 11 crew.
As soon as NASA plans to carry out the promised, it is not clear yet. Indeed, back in 2003, after the crash of the Columbia shuttle, American astronauts moved to the Russian Unions, which are much more reliable and safer. For this, the US president even amended the Iranian Non-Proliferation Act regarding relations with Russia. Until 2011, they managed to sign a new agreement in the amount of $ 719 million. The recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia repulsed the American congressmen, who were to approve a contract aimed at continuing cooperation, any desire to have any business with Russia.
For Russia, the amount of $ 719 million is significant, but not critical, but the station will be able to work without American astronauts, as Russian experts directly declare. America has every chance to fly out of the flight program altogether. At least until 2015, when Lockheed Martin will complete the development of a new Orion spacecraft specifically for NASA.
If you continue to use the Space Shuttle system ships, they will not only “eat up” the lion's share of the space agency’s budget, postpone the Orion development and jeopardize the plans of the US government to land people on the Moon and Mars, but they will also lead to another disaster and loss crew.
Frank anti-Russian statements by American politicians look helpless and it would be most reasonable to attribute them to the usual pre-election PR, because many experts agree that America has no choice and it will not work to throw off the “yoke” of Russian astronautics before 2015, which means after after the struggle for the presidency, NASA will allow itself to ride a little more on the Russian "Union".
Cyril Levin for magov.net
Relations between the United States and Russia have noticeably worsened since the recent hostilities in the Caucasus, the echoes of the new Cold War have already sounded on the American continent and not just anywhere, but in NASA itself, which is seriously concerned about the future of its space program.
The manned space program for the Americans is not just the result of technological progress, it is something more, like a national idea. George W. Bush’s latest election campaign was largely based on ambitious promises to conquer space and repeat the success of the Apollo 11 crew.
As soon as NASA plans to carry out the promised, it is not clear yet. Indeed, back in 2003, after the crash of the Columbia shuttle, American astronauts moved to the Russian Unions, which are much more reliable and safer. For this, the US president even amended the Iranian Non-Proliferation Act regarding relations with Russia. Until 2011, they managed to sign a new agreement in the amount of $ 719 million. The recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia repulsed the American congressmen, who were to approve a contract aimed at continuing cooperation, any desire to have any business with Russia.
For Russia, the amount of $ 719 million is significant, but not critical, but the station will be able to work without American astronauts, as Russian experts directly declare. America has every chance to fly out of the flight program altogether. At least until 2015, when Lockheed Martin will complete the development of a new Orion spacecraft specifically for NASA.
If you continue to use the Space Shuttle system ships, they will not only “eat up” the lion's share of the space agency’s budget, postpone the Orion development and jeopardize the plans of the US government to land people on the Moon and Mars, but they will also lead to another disaster and loss crew.
Frank anti-Russian statements by American politicians look helpless and it would be most reasonable to attribute them to the usual pre-election PR, because many experts agree that America has no choice and it will not work to throw off the “yoke” of Russian astronautics before 2015, which means after after the struggle for the presidency, NASA will allow itself to ride a little more on the Russian "Union".
Cyril Levin for magov.net