America's got Talent

July 5, 2011: America's Got Talent
(Launchspace Staff)

Twelve Americans walked on the moon. American spacecraft have visited almost every planet in the Solar System. We assembled a space station as big as an oversized NFL football field, with a mass approaching half-a-million kilograms. We created the Global Position System (GPS) that is used by over a billion people for many applications. And, there is that myriad of benefits derived from space technology. No other country or group of countries can make these claims.

But, alas, the Space Age as we knew it is over, and the politicians have decided that the civil space program is best suited as a jobs program. As a result NASA has lost its innovative rudder and is adrift in a sea of political compromises and expediencies. In the back halls of Congress we hear things like; "Let's built a new big launch system to keep some of the centers operating, but we'll claim it is needed for space exploration." Of course, in reality, we don't need a new launch system for an exploration program that does not exist.

The really unfortunate part of this situation is that NASA cannot even articulate a vision or a set of goals that might excite technical innovation that is so badly needed to keep America ahead in the battle for technological leadership. The only innovative trends that can be detected lately are negative. It is hard to maintain world leadership when you have it, but it is much harder to regain it once it is lost.


Ed note---and you don't have enough sense to keep the shuttle flying. Such a waste.