Do you think it was right of Obama to fiddle in NASA's "Constellation" program?

The way I heard it, he told NASA to get rid of Constellation and aim for Mars. Now, don't get me wrong, I think Mars is essential when it comes to exploration of worlds outside our own.



However, I think he seems like a douche for just going "nope" to NASA. I mean, seriously, who do you think is more intelligent? Hundreds of Rocket Scientists and Astronauts and Aerospace Engineers or one person?



What are your thoughts?Do you think it was right of Obama to fiddle in NASA's "Constellation" program?I think it makes sense to spend money on researching and developing spacecraft that will be capable of making flights much farther than just to the moon.



After all, we have already been there, and spending huge amounts of money just to go back there will delay a flight to Mars or beyond by a decade or more.



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"I mean, seriously, who do you think is more intelligent? Hundreds of Rocket Scientists and Astronauts and Aerospace Engineers or one person?"



No one doubts the intelligence of NASA engineers, but they don't get to decide what projects to work on. Those decisions are made by the President and his many advisors.Do you think it was right of Obama to fiddle in NASA's "Constellation" program?
NASA follows national policy it does not create it



Lets have a little more respect for OUR president,, next insult gets the "abuse button"



It is a cost benefit Q.



Why did we stop the Moon landings?



Remember the shuttle was supposed to be a cheap safe reliable "space truck". Was it would you fly and airplane with that death rate?



I wish congress and senate would not "just say no"Do you think it was right of Obama to fiddle in NASA's "Constellation" program?Where do we start cutting costs and start sending jobs to the private sector? If the private sector is always better (at least according to Republicans), then we need to start somewhere. These people can get jobs with the new openings or businesses that will replace this portion of NASA. They can make more money too.
Obama's Messiah Complex just keeps getting in the way.



Obama really thinks he is something, doesn't he?



A little crack smoker in college - lost in life - no direction - virtually no experience - and now he is telling NASA what would be best for their future?Do you think it was right of Obama to fiddle in NASA's "Constellation" program?Its really a battle between science and propaganda. The Constellation program had a lot of propaganda value but not much scientific value.Do you think it was right of Obama to fiddle in NASA's "Constellation" program?
I hate to say it, but NASA may need to privatize more to generate more cash flow.
We have been travelling the same route to the moon/space station for decades. We've been there and done that. A new goal is needed.Do you think it was right of Obama to fiddle in NASA's "Constellation" program?
Elections have consequences.
I would have to say it made me angry. I mean it is kinda the future of us to travel outside of our planet.
Infidel! You must be a racist! The FBI will be coming to look at your voter registration card!
Hell...I don't think its right for Obama to fiddle with the Presidency !
He has one goal,,,

Destroy the U.S.A. and everything that made it great.
Establishing a lunar base is very important for future exploration and expansion. By establishing a lunar base, it becomes possible to manufacture space vehicles and send them off at a fraction of the cost due to the absence of much of Earth's gravity that current space vehicles must fight against. Not to mention the Moon's supply of Helium-3.



Although there is not as much scientific value besides learning how to live on space rocks with little gravity (asteroids, which are important because they have many resources such as platinum and aluminum), a lunar base is essential to future space expansion. Eventually this expansion would lead to an exporting industry in the Asteroid Fields.



Mars, while it is of mild scientific interest, is harder to set up a base on. It's farther away. You can only go to Mars when Earth and Mars line up/close to each other. Planetwide dust storms can seriously impair equipment. Mars' gravity makes it impractical for a profitable exporting industry to develop.



In response to the mindless OH PRIVATIZATION IS SO GREAT; yes, in a competitive market, space travel and the aerospace industry would become more efficient. This is true. However, you must look at the conditions of a competitive market. Most relevant to this discussion is the "Infinite Buyers/Infinite Sellers" condition, otherwise known as "Atomicity" (economists like giving different names). This essential factor to a competitive market is that there are many sellers AND buyers that would compete with one another. Without this level of competition, it would simply be some sort of oligopoly and efficiency would not be reached. Why is the market not atomic (many buyers/sellers) you ask? Because there's no money to be made in space (as of yet). Which is why the aim of privatization in Obama's plans makes no sense.



Why do you think government projects are needed at all? Because private firms and investors are unwilling to do so, when the projects would benefit everyone. Usually the reason is that there are high entry barriers (high initial costs, like dams) or that there is little to no profit for the individual firm (which is applicable in this situation).



Ironically, the best method to privatize the aerospace industry was the Constellation project.