Obama's Space Plan

[flubber805]

i fucking dislike this mother fucker so much more now

[1Nekit1]

ISS-17 lol

its ISS-28 now

[nyanjoss]

the one thing that sucks is that nasa hasent done shit in th last 30 years

[monokhem]

@nyanjoss just because you don't pay any attention doesn't mean they aren't doing things. Read more, type less.

[nyanjoss]

@monokhem  i know they do things i just meant that they havent been doing manned missions to other planets

[monokhem]

@nyanjoss That's like saying the Beatles never did shit because they didn't write a 115 hour opera. No one ever did that. Would you forget The ISS and Abby Road just because they didn't accomplish something no one has?

[libidomosquito]

Yes We Can!..............end the NASA space program and rely on private companies instead.

[nyanjoss]

@libidomosquito there not ending nasa

[libidomosquito]

@nyanjoss Their ending manned space missions, which effectively turns NASA into a second rate satellite launching company, they might as well be closing the doors for good. You can sugar coat it all you want but thousands of people are now out of a job because of the Obama administration. Here's to four more years of job loss, and broken promises, I guess "Yes We Can" should have been, No We Wont!

[SekretZdzicha]

Obama f*cking dog of banksters. He gave them thousands billions of dollars, but NASA won't get even 1/10 of it.

[DumbYankies]

@LLbffls4ever he should be sent into space. your right. But they shouldnt bring him back....

[ajdabeast09]

if we make the money why are we in dept and why is there a problem wit giving nasa the money seems dumb to me

[madd82]

they dont care about the gap becaues they have other ships already that they can use

[imissda80s]

We'll be lucky to ever see a manned misson to Mars in our lifetimes.

[imissda80s]

Thanks President Obama for destroying the American Space program.

[DumbYankies]

@imissda80s amen. This is treachery.

[180pills]

Why dosent obama use some of that bribe money from B.P. To shut him up about how much oil is really coming out that well every day

[miketite]

Obama/Bush couldn't care less what the people think, and contrary to what they say: "THE BUCK DOESN'T STOP THERE!".

The presidency has become nothing more than a government-scapegoat for public resentment as they continue to impose their policies under the guise of one administration to the next. Controlling the politics and conversation they're able to divide the people and conquer their minds, turning this 2-party system into a mindless religion for the masses.

[AcePilot101]

Here's an idea, Obama give back all that money you stole from the American people. Taxation is theft!

[wildboy789789]

@AcePilot101 FUCK YOU... taxation is not theft... obama has the same taxes as ronald regan (republican, if you didnt know)... if you dont like taxes then move to iran and see how freedom feels lol, we pay taxes in america, if you dont then your not an american... illegal aliens dont pay taxes, just like you

[strasheep]

haha his name is Miles O Brien.. like yer man from the Transporter room on the Enterprise D. his parents must have been geeks who could see the future!

[danhellerjr]

I say screw all the unnecessary programs till the damn deficit is taken care of. Also, what's more important - walking around on the moon or feeding a million hungry Americans? F'n STUPID politicians. There are fundraisers for Haiti and Ethiopia but what about THE HUNGRY & HOMELESS PEOPLE WITHIN OUR OWN BOARDERS??? Holy shit this country is F'd up. Think about it... If a member of your family was homeless & starving to death, would you just look the other way and but a new car? F'n RETARDS.

[Armigo91]

@danhellerjr

i see what you mean.

but one day, these mission can support economic funding and or extraterrestial mining that can support a better, more wealthier economy. So anything benefits to a wealthier nation. Some things will do in the long term, some in the short term.

Space exploration can greatly benefit humanity in the long term.

So its part of a greater good. if you cant see the possible benefits of it, then its your ignorance not mine.

Governments need to make choices. and its

[Armigo91]

true that the government is fuuked up. But the us government has been fuuked up for over a century already. I think obama is a big candidate for better chances compared to the rest of them presidents.

[QuantumLeap365]

Obama, you've bailed out wall street, you've bailed out the auto industry, you've bailed out the medical industry, you've bailed out the international banking cartel, but just after we discover water on Mars, you cancel our space program due to wasteful spending. What happened Obama, did you spend all the money bailing out your banker buddies? What a joke, China and India are going to make all the discoveries on Mars before the United States. Am I the only liberal concerned about REAL progress?

[LOLiverify]

Obama.... what an idiot! Oh ya just cancel the constellation program and lets give that money to the village idots collecting welfare. let's DUMB DOWN AMERICA!

[commonsense787]

Obama is turning us into Africa.

[ciber101010101]

@commonsense787 your stupid hes picking up the trash from bush

[shon9514]

There must be a new policy that will prevent new politicians from discontinueing space programs and changing any progress that was made since these programs are decades in the making, they work 5 years, get cancelled, new program, work another 5 , cancelled again, make work project to go no where, frustrating!! Why didn't he do this first thing in office, instead of letting them work another year for fun?

[Kapitananime]

Miles. All President Obama did was lay out more vague talk about going to an asteroid in 2025. ON WHAT? A heavy lift rocket like Ares V that he plans to cancel?

When did the ISS need a life boat? Are the people in the ISS in danger now without it? In 2007 the Constellation program did a study of Orion going to an asteroid. More ideas that Obama is taking from the Bush plan. Stop reading the script from the White House Miles!

[dkkght46]

Obama traveled to Florida to speak to NASA. Except that he didnt. NASA employees were not allowed to attend the speech. This only became known after it was leaked out during a live segment on MSNBC by Jay Barbree — the longtime NBC science correspondent.

Another Obama fraud just like himself

[wildboy789789]

im glad we are useing russian ships... it cost the usa 95 million$... it costs russians 55 million... thats alot of money we are saveing... and whos the idiot in the video that called it unwise to update our rocket? its unwise to keep a rocket from the 60's lol... fucking americans worry about money thats not even backed by gold, while other nations are exploreing space... greed has a funny way of takeing your eyes off what really matters

[ToxicOdiousOne]

The Cold War isn't over. He will ceede space to the communist Russians and Chinese. We are losing the Second Cold War to the communists. This will make America mediocre. Now NASA should change it's name for it's change in focus to studying the fradulent claims of climate change. We are incentivizing junk science. What is wrong with being the leader in space? Why not cut entitlement programs, lower taxes, and stop spending?

[lostintheapplasauce]

GERARD K. O'NEILL!!

[roninmaster250]

I think we should go to Mars and terraform* it so we have our own planet for Americans in case the rest of the world decides they hate our living guts and lead a huge multi-nation assault or if other disaster strikes.

*terraforming- the transforming of a uninhatible planet into one which you can live in, like Earth right now (or earth before the industrial revolution, given they started dumping pollutants into the atmosphere then)

[camarorider67]

NASA was doing just fine before obama cam along(why does he feel like he has to stick his nose in things he knows nothing about)... JUST LET IT BE

[guitarplayer4real]

Obama=Fucking loser

IMPEACH TODAY!

[jumbocumbo2]

I'm so ashamed of this president.

and to think i thought i almost liked him.

[datzfast]

look, like i said before someday NASA will send a coon to the moon, that day is just not tomorrow, so you see, i am keeping my word . LOL.

[skunkapotamus]

We gots ta spendin monay where it counts. Sendin food ta africa ta feed starvin baybays, fuck these white honkays wanna go out in space n sheit, gotdamn ain nuttin mo prettay dan a black baybay up in a bellay n sheit. Gots ta make mo hoes wit swollen ballays.

[roninmaster250]

@skunkapotamus WHAT THE FUCK?! Where the fuck were you raised in? Ala-hillbillyfucking-bama? And Obamas black if you didn't notice, and he's the one who wants to go to space!

[Italianlad69]

I guess since Obama cut NASA's funding, we won't see the first black man on the moon... Thank's for nothing Obama, lmfao.

[zenbugsbunnyzen]

politics ruining the world even more

here is a thought, if the Mafia ( Government ) would take all of they're death money out of wars

and put it into science the world would be 100000x's better. all they care about is profit and murder

[wildboy789789]

@zenbugsbunnyzen, we have a democracy... its the PEOPLE who want wars and profit... have you talked to some of the american idiots i have? "obamas a socialist"... even though hes putting space exploration into the free market in 2011 lol... we NEED obama to win 2012... hes not doing enough, but hes doing more than anyone in the past 30 years

[u7alll]

@zenbugsbunnyzen thats right. economics fails because you only make money or contribute to yourself. war fails because even if you take over a country you normally leave some of it in ruins and waste tons of money aswell. the problem with politics today, is that people just want more and more. they cant be happy that they are part of the richest countries in the world. and so when they risk to get more. they fail. and end up in this shit

[zigsauer]

Thats what happens when a thirdworlder runs a Country !

[Marakulous43]

@zigsauer I don't see someone who graduated from Harvard and taught Law as a third worlder. Sry, you fail.

[Marakulous43]

@zigsauer Funny who you even consider Obama a 3rd worlder but not Bush.

[SuperMagnetizer]

Porkulus package = $787 billion = 78.7 storey skyscraper.

NASA budget for 2011 = $19 billion = almost 2 storey house.

Constellation program needs $21 billion per year = 2.1 storey house.

[jiminiflix]

us is 80 trillion in debt. They are broke!? What will all this mean when theres a dollars crash , food riots and martial law?

[SpartanV295]

wish i was super rich i would just donate it all to NASA.

[Karangis]

that is the dumbest things u can do. our space program is here so we can eventually expand as a species to other planets. WE EXPAND OR WE DIE. so Obama is a speed bump in human exploration.

[guslb12]

i thinkthey should keep the shuttle until the new vehicle is ready that way theres no gap problem is how much more money would it cost

[21Milosz21]

Thank you Barrack Obama for canceling Constellation program! Asshole looking for money everywhere where he shouldn't. Leave NASA alone, let people touch sky and stars, not everyone like to stay on Earth and fighting in USA wars for oil. If you looking for money Obama you should bring back to home your troops. Obama is not better than Bush, he do same shit. Unfortunately he's not next Kennedy, what I thinking before but copy of Bush, what a shame for Americans.

[CharmingLordSausage]

Agreed: US Department of Defence budget 2010 = $664 billion.

NASA Budget 2011 = $19 billion.

Can you imagine what would happen to American industry if NASA's budget was 1/2 of the DOD budget? American Universities would be booming, there would be US colonies on the Moons and Mars and the US would go down in history as the nation that gave the English language to the entire solar system.

[MarcusKiner]

@CharmingLordSausage How is that relevant to anything? Look I'm all for logistics in space, but the military, and other things are more important.

[roninmaster250]

@CharmingLordSausage I agree. Not only that, but we could also use the Mars colony to escape disasters like war, famine, revolts and whatnot after we terraform it.

[GregSidelnikov]

@CharmingLordSausage Yeah but you are just one of those people who like to talk about great ideas, and do nothing about it.

[mbenzsl2000]

@CharmingLordSausage lol nice. the start of the Federation?

[wildboy789789]

@CharmingLordSausage... SO TRUE... im tired of this bickering, obama is a good president because hes pushing for nasa spending and people protest him even tho we need MORE of what obama is trying to do... fuck the debt... what if we find a solid gold astroid? lol... science wont wait for america so we have to make it a priority :)... good to see there are others like me

[mphet26]

@CharmingLordSausage Agreed: US Department of Defence budget 2010 = $664 billion.

NASA Budget 2011 = $19 billion.

I agree. But only the U.S. will stop spending billions on the war - they will be destroyed. There is no turning back.

So you can only make funny movies about the landing on the moon. And dream until the Russian landed on Mars. U.S. talks. Russia does.

[pavel280488AA]

@mphet26 америкосы сосут да здравствует российский космос)))))))

[DumbYankies]

@mphet26 Russia is never going to land on mars. Russia is using EXACTLY the same launcher and EXACTLY the same space vehicle that they were using when Gagarin crashed his plane in 1968. Thats 42 years of the same. Russia has not and does not have the ability to do otherwise. Russia will never leave low earth orbit with a manned vehicle. Russia has never EVEN sent a functional probe to the surface of mars. So feel free to live on your delusions...

[mphet26]

@DumbYankies Yes, Russia has old equipment. But the U.S. is not even old.

You are using a Russian launchers and the Russian space station Baykonur.

U.S. pays 50 million dollars per person for 1 place in the "Soyuz".... So stop listening FOX and the envy of Russia.

[DumbYankies]

@mphet26 But russia has no real plan to replace it. Other than a few power point presentations of Klipper and other 15 year old ideas.... US may be down but once Obama is history next year, im sure they will be back. SpaceX and Launch Alliance already has new capsules and rockets on the way. Presidents need to stop fucking around with nasa and let them develop proper 10 year strategies rather than crap some lobbiest thinks up like landing on an asteroid....

[mphet26]

@DumbYankies If you don't know about RosKosmos plans, don't say plz "Russia has no plan". Now planned to launch the project "Phobos-Grunt" on a satellite of Mars. Similar plans for the Venus, Mars.You know not much about this because in Russia we not talking a lot about some programs like "Constellation" and then it was cancelled with tears. The fact that NASA sends photos from Mars, nothing says. First Photo from Mars was the Soviet, and what?It is a trifle.There should be a station and people.

[DumbYankies]

@mphet26 snore.... some 40 year old russian blurry 1 frame photo of mars before the probe konked out 10 minutes later. And since then .. nada. Wake me up when your Phobos-Grunt (i suspect thats a spelling mistake) actually makes it past the powerpoint stage. It will join the long list of rusting russian space relics since Buran. Dreams and ex-soviet detritus. Enjoy the photos from pluto in a few years thanks to nasa. That will be the whole solar systems visited before russia got past mars.. bye

[mphet26]

@DumbYankies NEWS:

"NASA, already committed to paying Russia millions of dollars to hitch rides into space, had some expensive news to announce Monday: Russia plan to start charging even more. Now, Russia is hiking the price for each rocket ride to nearly $63 million in 2014. The contract extension with the Russian Space Agency totals $753 million, which covers trips for a dozen astronauts from 2014 through 2016."

Without comments.

[DumbYankies]

@mphet26 hmm. 12 trips on soyuz for 753 versus 14 shuttle seats for how much? and with a shuttle you would get 2 x 20tons cargo as well. And the real cost of a shuttle launch is way less than 1.5bn each. Most of that figure is BS invented by attributing a lot of useless mouths at NASA to the shuttle launches, when in reality they just push paper or design websites or whatever. The real cost is probably closer to $200M.

So the russians are crooks and Obama is a fool. Next

[TheFluffyDuck]

@CharmingLordSausage I share your dream and frustration. But America is having WAY too much fun blowing up brown people in the middle east.

[SpartanV295]

@21Milosz21 wish JFK was still around just imagine how far he would be in space tech mars moon maybe close to SW tech or ME tech but its all about fucking oil i mean this is rediculus if they can build a tanger oulet in 3months time then put more people to it hire alot if engineers and get the god dam job done. success= people and money and supplys put it all togther and well be on mars in no time.

[jers59]

Correct this anti american lowlife obama has destroyed the US space program along with the economy. Hopefully in november congress will change and we can stop this anti american obama in his tracks

[21Milosz21]

"Yes, we can't"

[rllang01]

a perfect indicator for the state of the nation, gutting our scientific research in order to prop up the welfare state and pay for corporate bonuses... how much longer do you think america will last ???

[MstrMnd420]

Boohoo these fags should be helping humanity instead of wasting money going somewhere where they more than likely wont find shit worth while.

[Antiworld23]

Yeah, giving money to union thugs and failed banks is really a better way to help humanity.

I say cut your goddamn welfare check and SSN to pay for it. $1000 on a bolt for a space rocket or fighter jet is better money spent than $1 for goddamn subersive organizations like ACORN.

[MstrMnd420]

Did I say shit about giving our nations money supply to failed organizations? No I didnt. I am mearly stating when the nation has a food shortage, you will love to eat those $1,000 bolts for breakfast. dumbass

[glovercm]

Yes he is! I'm watching a show on History now about how we will be back on the moon by 2020. I'm wathing this and feeling very sad. Way to go Obama! Glad I didn't vote for you.

[jeffbklyn]

President Obama went back on his promise and killed the Manned Space Program.

[eddiefromnyc]

oh and fcuk bush and his daddy... lol...retarded drug dealing coke using presindent... fucking great...I have to admit bush was fun to watch on live tv...just waiting for him to fuck up... I cant forget the 9/11 day...omg..lol.. he just sat there with a story book in his hand not knowing what to do...fuck the nasa program and baby bush! lol...fuck mccain too and his momma!

[eddiefromnyc]

why does everyone always have something negative to say about EVERY single thing he wants to do to better this piece of shiet country? ??? huh??? why??? fcuk nasa and spend the money in the school systems... teachers need more money... this country is retarded... cops, firefighters and teachers need a fckng raise... again fcuk the nasa program!

[Antiworld23]

"piece of shit country" - That sums up liberals nicely and it explains why EVERYTHING they and Obama do subtract from from our leadership in key areas economically, scientifically, and militarily.

All those jobs are a buch of leeching union jobs. FUCK THEM and FUCK OBAMA.

This traitorous asshole is going to be a bad memory in 3 years, hold tight everyone. He'll be losing his congress in less than a year.

[rllang01]

spend the money on education ? what will we teach ? more science ? oh wait obama is cutting science spending.

[ericwhitsk8]

Rata4you

You are a fucking idiot

[tenfootgoatman]

can i just point out the moons mineral weath . look up helium-3 . theres every chance that the nation that controls the moon will control the earth . private enterprise will not be able to compete with a national space program of a super power like china . helium-3 is the oil of the future and whats happened is that the USA has opted to not be a super power of tomorrow .

[venera13studios]

yes and no, Helium along with Helium -3 is the 2nd most commen eliment in the cosmos, hydrogen is the most commen and it can be used for lot's of different things, so yes i think we need to go to the moon and mars, but there not looking for gold and oil and othere such things.

[xiola6969]

I am pretty sure you are right, Rata4You why do you think they where so intent on giving the banks billions of dollars to save our economy from collapse, because they know there are millions of people like me armed to the teeth and well trained who would have imprisoned or kill them and then kicked all of your kind from our shores. I actually got angry when they saved it

[xiola6969]

I was looking forward to putting Tariffs on all imports equal to an American Wage and watching all the jobs come back oversea's to our shores. and forcing all illegal immigrants out of our country. and putting kill drones on our border with Mexico and putting all those bankers/politicians in jail or graves and restoring the constitution and ideals of our government. it was going to another revolution, the demands would be simple after another depression, dissolve the federal reserve or die =)

[jizzmonger]

@xiola6969

I agree with everything you say except for the destruction of the FED.

You don't need to destroy the fed, you just need to get it back under the control of the people.

[SuperMagnetizer]

The U.S. manned space program is over after this year, unless we get some real leadership. NASA's budget is peanuts compared to everything else. The 1.4 trillion dollar deficit in Obama's irresponsible budget is not due to NASA. That Obama character, together with his yes-man at NASA, Charles Bolden, are intent on killing American manned spaceflight. How do you think Benjamin Franklin would react to this circumstance?

[Rata4You]

NASA is old school. It appeals to the few. Private space travel is innovative and the private sector is setting plans on space hotels whereas NASA is chicken shit and has no real program. Plotting, mapping, and naming rocks is so gutless.

NASA is finished.

[ironbob2008]

Thanks for the rhetoric you goddamn idiot.

[Rata4You]

Maybe NASA should consider a private partnership....you know, stop mooching off taxpayer money. If this isnt socialism then I dont know what is. Socialism for banks, car companies, insurers and NASA, but no socialism for people?

At least try to remain consistent, dude.

[dropkick03]

Come on. Why that rationale the military should be privatized. I'm sure you wouldn't agree with that.

How about we cut back on useless entitlement programs.

[CharmingLordSausage]

Obama does have a vsion for America. It's one where US kids can watch Chinese astronauts bounce around on the Moon and Mars!

[ceetboy]

but all of them are working together towards one goa (space war)l. the news make it look like a competition and rivery race, but it all comes down to the nwo to swear their allegiance to the brotherhood.

[Rata4You]

As if America´s taxpayer can afford to foot the bill for NASA. Ummm.....when you owe $12,000,000,000,000 (TRILLION) in credit card debts, you best not be dreaming about bouncing around on the moon. In fact, get your head out of the clouds and pay the rent ya dead beats!

[ironbob2008]

I could save the country 20 trillion in ten years. Outlaw public service unions. DONE.

[Rata4You]

That would be self defeating, dude. That means that the millions of middle class people will be removed from the masses further depopulating the middle class. That means more poor people. More needy people requiring govt services like medical care, or welfare. Then you´d say get rid of welfare and medical care....then after the private sector would have no choice but to push for more outsourcing since nobody can buy domestic anymore. Send all the remaining jobs to china. Then your job.

[Rata4You]

The reason why banks were giving money to the poor was because of the depopulation of the middle class. Those people become poor and then they start to come after YOUR job. They´ll work cheaper than you....you lose your job and they take over. Are you a plumber making $25 per hour? Hey, I can do your job for $15. No problem. Enjoy welfare...wait...that would be gone to.

Thats how 3rd world countries are created, dude. Every action has consequences.

[Ironbob2006]

@Rata4You WRONG. My job cannot be performed by foreign nationals. What you said makes no goddamn sense at all.

[Rata4You]

Oh yes it can. We need to expand the worker visa program to enable them to fill in positions here at reasonable salaries and by reasonable i mean that I believe you are paid too much. With the visa worker program retuned, it should allow new immigrants a certainty to obtain citizenship much more quickly and easier. Already doctors and nurses are en route....your job will be easy to attract newer and more feasible employees from abroad. You are not worth what you are charging...trust me.

[xiola6969]

Rata4You you are paid too much,

hay U the money tree died please get the fuck out you leach, look at the news we have 10% unemployment and obama is now trying to outsource this to private corps....are you insane obama >? I don't want to see corp. logo's on our shuttle with one side of your mouth you claim you are against but with the other side of it you do shit like this, USA only country to ever go to the moon only country with rovers on mar and who the fuck are you ?

[flicklefish]

@CharmingLordSausage That sounds pretty good to me. We save money, and it will be fun to watch them bounce. : )

[Antimatter050]

@CharmingLordSausage -while we will be stuck on a cold rock (Asteroid).

[GoLuckyOops]

Scientists everywhere laugh every time "science" is used to further partisan interest. "you are the scientists" crap. Obama will cut NASA funding, in addition to many other research endeavors. like listening to a motivational speaker who pushes partisan interests. A car is only about 5 to 15 percent energy efficient, you could triple the cost of a car and it is only an additional 5 to 10 percent more energy efficient. taxing energy can be sold as "going green". Time for unemployment

[sumo7274]

yay..

[lalalamaggot]

obama will create a new space shuttle it will be called the N.E.G.R.O rocket ...It don't work, and it can't be fired

[kumathebulldog]

k that was funny but mean... still funny.

[lucidcafe]

I'm really going to be annoyed if NASA funding gets cut, when they are pumping trillions into the banks. NASA's budget is a pin prick compared to the stimulus package and the bank bail out. President Obama, make sure NASA stays fully funded. At least we will get a return on investment with those dollars.

[Joe35983]

What we need is a "Star Trek" Style Economy that eliminate the use of money that way cost will no longer be a factor in manned space travel

[Rata4You]

That is coming. Money means unlimited resources. You CAN build a death star if you want...in capitalism there isnt enough money in print to build that star....sadly.

[Destro7000]

China is going to overtake the US at some point on this front, Obama seems hesitant about giving NASA the funding it requires.

[MrAmerica1995]

Are you kidding? In the stimulus pakage he signed, NASA received $1 billion for the upcomming Project Constellation which, with the help of this bill, will be launched YEARS before it was originally planned to. I say we'll be back on the moon and possibly even mars before 2020, at least 2025.

[Destro7000]

yeah but considering a Mars mission was originally planned for 2013, it's pretty lagged.

NASA isn't considered by the public to be top on their list of priorities, so naturally it's going to flail behind the East, who are quite proud of their new achievements.

[MrAmerica1995]

When you think about it, 2013 isn't that far away, and with the $1 billion NASA received, we maybe won't be on Mars, but at least the moon. Other countries, like China and Russia, are perfecting new ways at succesful UNMANNED missions. NASA is more focused on sending humans to the Moon and Mars, not robots. So, like I said before, we'll definately be back on the moon before 2020. In my opinion, they should build a runway on the moon and use it to land new, redesigned space shuttles. Thats cool.

[Destro7000]

that's what I mean, 2013 really isn't that far away.

I don't know if it's realistic or not, but China are claiming their Manned moon mission will happen around 2024.

They're pretty realistic about their Manned Mars mission though, it's slated for the 2050s, so our generation probably wont be around to see it.

A runway? LOL. Have you seen the Orion?

Plus a runway on the moon is fairly pointless, it'd be far more useful to have a Mass driver.

[MrAmerica1995]

Yeah, I know what the Orion is. It's part of Project Constellation, with the Ares launch vehicles. What I'm saying is that, since the moon has a lower gravity force then Earth, a shuttle would be able to take off like a plane into space without having to launch straight up. So, if a moon base is constructed, a new shuttle can be used to transport people to and from the moon, without the complexity of the Orion rocket. Of course, It would still take off from Earth like a rocket. Just a theory.

[TheGreatSparky]

Unfortunately, no. While the moon does have less gravity, (thus enabling easier launches from it), the moon has no Atmosphere for a plane to fly it.

What NASA really needs to figure out is how to mine ice from the moon, and turn it into rocket fuel, so that the vehicles going out there won't have to carry fuel for the return trip.

[ApolloAchtzehn]

NASA,

I hope you´ll take this time the right way of getting back to the moon and into space.

The Shuttles had been a deep kickback to the space programmes of the USA and the Russian.

But thank you NASA for giving ESA the chance to become a mainstream.

Good luck!

[reblives]

I see our dear leaders are quick to bailout failing corperations with the tune of $700 billion, and yet NASA our public institution needs to beg for a few billion.

[Antiworld23]

No shit, he should try selling GOVERNMENT Motors to someone then giving the profits to NASA.