Burt Rutan "concerned" about Obama space plan

[Hielor]

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2010/02/burt-rutan-comments-on-obama-n.html

That is not a "NASA plan"; it is the proposed budget from the White House. It will likely be revised by the Congress. I am for NASA doing either true Research, or doing forefront Exploration, with taxpayer $.

Ares/Orion is more of a Development program than a Research program, so I am not depressed to see it disappear. I am concerned to see NASA manned spaceflight disappear, since they provided world leadership in the 60s and part of the 70s. The result was America's universities being the leader in Science/Engineering PhDs.

Many American kids will be depressed by the thought that our accomplishments will not be continued and thus America will fall deeper away from our previous leadership in Engineering/Science/Math. I believe our future success depends on our ability to motivate our youth.

I would support a restructuring of goals and funding so NASA can be allowed to perform like the 60s on space Research and on Exploration. There is not a shred of evidence that the President sees any value in those goals.

 

[jinglesassy]

sorry but whos burt rutan?

 

[Shadow Addict]

sorry but whos burt rutan?

http://tinyurl.com/yee59uw

 

[anemazoso]

He makes a very good point. However, the realities of the situation are that if we are to choose from a underfunded debacle or a realist industry creating approach in which case what would be more uninspiring, a program that promises big things and fails or a program that provides smaller yet more reliable milestones?

Besides it's no wonder Burt favors the 60's-70's approach with those big-old mutton chops he sports...

---------- Post added at 03:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:04 PM ----------

http://tinyurl.com/yee59uw

:rofl: Never saw that before. Hilarious!!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

http://tinyurl.com/yee59uw

Sorry to go off-topic, but that is HILARIOUS! :rofl:

That site is being added to my favourites!

 

[Ark]

Despite all the discussion, it's kind of hard to draw final conclusions one way or another until the final budget is through Congress, and without the supermajority in the Senate it's going to be a long, messy process.

 

[anemazoso]

Despite all the discussion, it's kind of hard to draw final conclusions one way or another until the final budget is through Congress, and without the supermajority in the Senate it's going to be a long, messy process.

True but it doesn't have to be if the Dems would grow a spine and use reconciliation.

 

[Hielor]

It's also worth noting that it's entirely possible Burt Rutan could benefit from the commercialization of spaceflight, and he's still not entirely sure this is the best thing for NASA to be doing.

 

[Donamy]

Besides it's no wonder Burt favors the 60's-70's approach with those big-old mutton chops he sports...

yah, 1860's ! :lol:

 

[Keatah]

The one problem I see is that plans keep changing too often and the pace of progress is too slow. As soon as a seed is planted it gets uprooted by some political something or other. They've been talking about going to the moon for 20 years now, and I can promise you it will take 40 to get back.

It's not so much any one institution or person that is causing this. It is a deeply rooted problem in a dumbed-down American mentality. The problem is profit and pet-project syndrome, if you will.

As I like to say, humans do not belong in space till we can build ships like in star trek. Till then let's stick to probes and rovers and focus on materials and propulsion and theory. Once we make advances in those areas, humans can easily and cost effectively move out into the solar system and beyond. En'masse and safely too!

For now we can dream with orbiter!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

yah, 1860's ! :lol:

Burt Rutan's new project: The Scaled Composites Razor! :rofl:

 

[Urwumpe]

Burt Rutan's new project: The Scaled Composites Razor! :rofl:

Lighter, Faster, Further! Made of composite materials and powered by a hybrid rocket engine.

 

[T.Neo]

Oh please... do we really need EVERY personality's opinion on Obama's budget cuts?

And I mean, this is Burt Rutan, he's in the top group of professionals working on (and succeeding with) commercial spaceflight. Orion won't make a difference to his commercial success...

 

[Urwumpe]

Oh please... do we really need EVERY personality's opinion on Obama's budget cuts?

Yes. Can I have a thread for mine too?

 

[T.Neo]

Yes. Can I have a thread for mine too?

You aren't a personality, as much as you would like to believe so.

 

[Urwumpe]

You aren't a personality, as much as you would like to believe so.

I am. I can even grow Rutans hair style, if needed.

 

[Hielor]

Yes. Can I have a thread for mine too?

Hehe, go ahead and start the thread!
"Urwumpe the latest to (dis)approve of Obama's space plan)