Quite remarkable to think that NASA who for so long battled with Russia to lead the space race to the Moon, could now actually be left behind, in terms of the major space conquests planned for the next decade or so.
With NASA's budget being slashed for the EXOMARS project last month, the major European nations have come together to keep this key project from falling away. It seems the plan to send a satellite and rover to the Red Planet will continue; but Russia will now partner Europe instead, taking on key roles, including the provision of two rockets.
Although the door has been left open for NASA investment; it does seem their priorities now lie elsewhere. Of course, there is still a great deal going on. The plans for future space projects, including sending space craft to land on Jupiter's moons and to chase comets around the solar system are important and over time, what they find may well exceed all expectations; but surely the Mars project is the big one. Does the US really want to miss out on the prospect of man walking on the Red Planet one day?
Surely, putting a man on Mars is the most important space target for the first half of the twenty-first century. The EXOMARS series of missions planned for 2016 and 2018 are just the first small steps that will bring forward the day when a manned mission can take place. The technological advancements that such a mission would bring, will benefit the whole planet and those on-board now, will gain the most from its successful conclusion. It is almost unthinkable that NASA might not be included.
This constant recessionary climate, the world now finds itself in, will one day come to an end. US economic growth is on the up and once the major European economies have sorted out their own financial woes, we will surely be back to growth, growth, growth. Let us hope the international community can then come together and really put some major investment back into the global space programme and by then NASA will be back on board. We can do it without them; but the major player in the space age must surely play its part once again.
3 comments:
Great post, Chris! I can't help but wonder where along the way the USA has lost its ultra-competitive drive to be the first out there. I know, bad economy, budget cuts, blah blah but that's never stopped people before. Somehow I keep thinking they've found *another* way to be first in space matters; like the development of technology to probe farther regions and our neighbor planets which they don't want to share? Like putting crashed alien tech to use? Like watching other nations do the costly experiments and apply the lessons-learnt to their own projects? Meh. Maybe I've been plotting too much lately... ;)
It's sad that the economy (et al) has resulted in the downward spiral of NASA as a leader in space exploration. We can only hope once the economy does improve that NASA won't be so far behind the curve it may never catch up.
After the development of a new orbiter vehicle, it seems Mars should be the A1 priority, followed by exploration of the Jovian and Saturn systems. There is so much we can learn from our neighbor and the moons of the outer planets such as Europa, Titan and Io.
I love the idea that NASA may have found another way... Maybe Area 51 has provided them with the technology that we do not yet have... In which case how far have NASA really gone and what have they found??? Hmm.... Maybe that's my creative storytelling juices stirring
One things for sure,the US is no worse off then the Eurozone and yet ESA can still find the funds and partners to support this. You can sense that the NASA chiefs are frustrated; but I can't see them being tied down for long... there is way too much going on up there at the moment!
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