Mitt Romney Reveals Space Exploration Plans (But Few Details) - Polidicks

[QUOTE]By Mike Wall updated 1 hour 48 minutes ago Print Font: Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has unveiled his plans for the future of NASA and American space exploration, unleashing a blistering attack on President Barack Obama in the process. In a policy paper released Saturday (Sept. 22), Romney and running mate Paul Ryan pledge to secure the nation's global leadership position in space, which, they say, has eroded significantly during the president's first term. "Over the past four years, the Obama Administration, through poor policy and outright negligence, has badly weakened one of the hallmarks of American leadership and ingenuity — our nation’s space program," the paper reads. "Rebuilding NASA, restoring U.S. leadership, and creating new opportunities for space commerce will be hard work, but Mitt Romney will strive to rebuild an institution worthy of our aspirations and capable once again of leading the world toward new frontiers," the authors add. [ Gallery: President Obama and NASA ] The paper says Obama's 2010 cancellation of the moon-oriented Constellation program robbed NASA's human spaceflight program of much of its focus and direction. Romney and Ryan promise to restore that focus — but they're unlikely to increase NASA's funding, which stands at $17.7 billion in the White House's proposed 2013 federal budget. "A strong and successful NASA does not require more funding, it needs clearer priorities," the paper reads. "Romney will ensure that NASA has practical and sustainable missions. There will be a balance of pragmatic and top-priority science with inspirational and groundbreaking exploration programs." No further details about these prospective science and exploration missions are provided. Indeed, the eight-page document is sparing with details throughout, saying that specifics will be drawn up later, after consulation with representatives from NASA, the Air Force, academia and the business community. Instead, the Republican nominee promises broad commitments to work with international partners, strengthen America's national security space programs — including "the development of capabilities that will deter adversaries seeking to damage or destroy the space capabilities of the U.S. and its allies" — and revitalize the nation's aerospace industry. Romney and Ryan also say they'll encourage the continued emergence of the American private spaceflight industry, which they feel NASA should rely on for crew and cargo flights to low-Earth orbit to the extent possible. This last vision is similar to the one the space agency is already embarked upon. NASA is currently grooming private American spaceships to fill the shoes of the space shuttle fleet, which was retired last year. One company, California-based SpaceX, is set to launch its first contracted cargo run to the orbiting lab for NASA on Oct. 7. And the agency hopes at least two different commercial vehicles will be ready to fly crews to and from the International Space Station by 2017. Meanwhile, NASA is developing a huge rocket called the Space Launch System and a capsule known as Orion to carry astronauts to a near-Earth asteroid by 2025 and the vicinity of Mars by the mid-2030s — goals laid out by Obama in 2010. But until the commercial astronaut taxis are ready to go, the nation will be dependent on Russian Soyuz spacecraft to launch its crews to low-Earth orbit. And the Romney-Ryan campaign lays a great deal of blame for this situation on the current administration. "We have presided over a dismantling of the space program over the last four years," Ryan, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin, said during a speech in Florida on Saturday. Obama "has put the space program on a path where we are conceding our global position as the unequivocal leader in space," Ryan added. "Today, if we want to send an astronaut to the space station, we have to pay the Russians to take them there. China may someday be looking down on us from the moon. That is unacceptable." Follow SPACE.com senior writer Mike Wall on Twitter@michaeldwallor SPACE.com@Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook and Google+.[/QUOTE] I hope he doesn't ask for the ability to open the windows on spacecraft. :v:

source?

Space programs are people my friend.

So they want NASA to be the bet space agency in the world without raising its budget?

Takes us to the Moon and beyond, you magnificent bastard-motherfucker. Though I now wonder if Romney would be able to capitalize on space travel for the American people by the government, but I'm pretty sure that's been done already by another company whose name eludes me at the present moment.

[QUOTE=Phaselancer;37791814]So they want NASA to be the bet space agency in the world without raising its budget?[/QUOTE]What do you expect from someone who has little to no knowledge about space related subjects at all. Really he's just saying this shit to try and get people who are interested in space on his side, which isn't going to happen because I doubt many if any space enthusiasts like Romney. [quote][B]"A strong and successful NASA does not require more funding, it needs clearer priorities,"[/B] the paper reads. "Romney will ensure that NASA has practical and sustainable missions. There will be a balance of pragmatic and top-priority science with inspirational and groundbreaking exploration programs."[/quote]No stupid it does require more funding, how the fuck do they expect NASA to do anything beyond Earth orbit with a shitty budget. When NASA went to the Moon during the Apollo missions their budget was between 2% to (almost) 5% of the Federal budget. Nowadays they don't even have 1% of the Federal budget. Hmmm Romney mind explaining to me how we're going to accomplish ANYTHING with a less than 1% budget??

[QUOTE=thelurker1234;37791801]source?[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49153616#.UGEf0bJlRFs[/url] [editline]25th September 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Phaselancer;37791814]So they want NASA to be the bet space agency in the world without raising its budget?[/QUOTE] Basically yes. I don't know how though.

Was impressed until I read he wasn't changing the budget. He's not doing shit, just wants more people on his side.

Maybe we can give the SLS some actual missions rather than the "Maybe someday we'll use it to do something with the moon.. or mars, or maybe asteroids idk.." We're building the rocket that can take [i]humans[/i] to the asteroid belt but we don't have any real, solid mission plans for it.

"Mitt Romney Reveals [insert Mitt Romney policy] Plans (But Few Details)" Pretty much his entire campaign. Because the details are horrifying.

[QUOTE=King Tiger;37791923]"Mitt Romney Reveals [insert Mitt Romney policy] Plans (But Few Details)" Pretty much his entire campaign. Because the details are horrifying.[/QUOTE] He is actually gonna take poor people and turn them into rocket fuel. Gets rid of the poor, and provides fuel for NASA. Whats so wrong with him just saying that he wants to give NASA clear goals on what to do, maybe he is too busy to think about what he would want them to do or how they should do it. That is what your cabinet is for when your president.

This just in, Romney wants to do things, will reveal what when elected

Repubs do spend more on NASA than Demis Niel deGrasse Tyson told me so

[QUOTE=person11;37791978]This just in, Romney wants to do things, will reveal what when elected[/QUOTE] This just in, every candidate does this. That and not doing what they say.

This just in, candidates lie just to get into office. (Guantanamo Bay)

[QUOTE=PollytheParrot;37792029]This just in, candidates lie just to get into office. (Guantanamo Bay)[/QUOTE] inb4 the Republicans wouldn't allow it.

Obama has at least revealed things he wants to do, and tries to get people to sign onto them. He has the Jobs Act and the Dream Act and a few other ready plans sitting in Congress right now, and he talks about solutions to problems all the time. Romney, instead of providing alternatives, simply tells Obama that his plans are bad and that he himself would do a better job.

[QUOTE=assassin_Raptor;37792031]inb4 the Republicans wouldn't allow it.[/QUOTE] That is exactly what happened. Obama signed an executive order to close it down. It was thwarted by Republicans in Congress. Obama signed another one to cut funding I believe and to fund a new prison in Virginia, Republicans in Congress denied funding to the newer prison in Virginia.

[QUOTE=person11;37792041]Obama has at least revealed things he wants to do, and tries to get people to sign onto them. He has the Jobs Act and the Dream Act and a few other ready plans sitting in Congress right now, and he talks about solutions to problems all the time. Romney, instead of providing alternatives, simply tells Obama that his plans are bad and that he himself would do a better job.[/QUOTE] Well he kinda is president and has a whole team of people who are working for him to bring forth these programs.

[QUOTE=Killer900;37791827] No stupid it does require more funding, how the fuck do they expect NASA to do anything beyond Earth orbit with a shitty budget. When NASA went to the Moon during the Apollo missions their budget was between 2% to (almost) 5% of the Federal budget. Nowadays they don't even have 1% of the Federal budget. Hmmm Romney mind explaining to me how we're going to accomplish ANYTHING with a less than 1% budget??[/QUOTE] We clearly just need to use cheaper materials. Like Cardboard and Tin Foil. Maybe they can have the occasional brand name Duct Tape, but only if they show promising results.

[QUOTE=person11;37792041]Obama has at least revealed things he wants to do, and tries to get people to sign onto them. He has the Jobs Act and the Dream Act and a few other ready plans sitting in Congress right now, and he talks about solutions to problems all the time. Romney, instead of providing alternatives, simply tells Obama that his plans are bad and that he himself would do a better job.[/QUOTE] Nice choice picking two bills that would have negated each other's effects... Jobs bill: Lets get more jobs for people to get into! Dream act: Lets get more people in the job pool!

It'd be cool to see a budget space shuttle carrying humans to mars. The twist is, the space shuttle is made out of duct tape. The next twist is, the humans don't have to be alive.

Romney saying this? Space is bad now.

[QUOTE=Ridge;37792075]Nice choice picking two bills that would have negated each other's effects... Jobs bill: Lets get more jobs for people to get into! Dream act: Lets get more people in the job pool![/QUOTE] Nice job acting like those two bills are somehow not both necessary to improve the lives of the people who live in this fine nation

[QUOTE=Chernarus;37792089]Romney saying this? Space is bad now.[/QUOTE] If you would have read it you would have seen it's just another way ti get votes. He wants to get places but wont raise the 0.46% budget.

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;37792065]We clearly just need to use cheaper materials. Like Cardboard and Tin Foil. Maybe they can have the occasional brand name Duct Tape, but only if they show promising results.[/QUOTE]That's a great idea! Hmm, I wonder how well cardboard can withstand going 25,000 miles per hour... Or how well tinfoil acts as a heat shield.

[QUOTE=Killer900;37792130]That's a great idea! Hmm, I wonder how well cardboard can withstand going 25,000 miles per hour... Or how well tinfoil acts as a heat shield.[/QUOTE] Go play Kerbal Space Program and find out yourself. :v:

[QUOTE=person11;37792100]Nice job acting like those two bills are somehow not both necessary to improve the lives of the people who live in this fine nation[/QUOTE] I'd say the people here legally deserve some priority over the ones here illegally.

I'd say that if you are born in the USA to illegal parents, you had no choice in the matter and you deserve to be recognized as someone who deserves priority. Obama did decide to give some of those people the right to not be deported by Executive Order, which is great, but the rest of the Bill is just sitting around because of Republicans.

[QUOTE=person11;37792199]I'd say that if you are born in the USA to illegal parents, you had no choice in the matter and you deserve to be recognized as someone who deserves priority. Obama did decide to give some of those people the right to not be deported by Executive Order, which is great, but the rest of the Bill is just sitting around because of Republicans.[/QUOTE] If you're born in the USA, even to illegal parents, you're a citizen. It was decided by the Supreme Court in 1898, and it's the whole "anchor baby" thing that some people get angry about.