I"m an independent. I love NASA, I like Obama. Congress has never really funded Nasa like they should have. But Nasa has to share some blame too. They always come out with these high ball unrealistic & politically impossible budgets. I'm starting to think they do this intentionally. They'll ask for 20 billion knowing they'll only get 2 billion. They have tons of ideas, most of which I like, but they are like kids in a candy store. They need to focus on a few idea that are worth while and that are realistic.
For example, they are phasing out the shuttle for the aries I rocket. Yet they won't come out and say they want the privet sector to take a bigger role. Even though this is clearly their plan. I really don't trust the private sector, because they don't have the track record for safety. But Nasa can't be playing games. I know their true dream is to tera form mars, but c'mon... right now, it aint going to happen no matter how cool of an idea it is. And the idea of going to mars... waste of time. Even the rocket launch to the moon to find water... what did we learn from it? The moon has more water then we thought. wow. that helps us how? It doesn't answer any fundamental or meaningful questions. Remember, NASA #1 goal is to answer the question of Where did we come from. Water on mars, doesn't answer that question.
Now spirit and opportunity... genius! I give them amazing credit for that. And the idea of sending an astronaut to mars, is cool. But we are at least ten years away from that. They need to focus on robotics for right now. I would love to see a man space flight, but if congress can't even pass a health care, there is no way NASA is going to get the kind of funding it really needs.
