Space Exploration Part 1:Planning our next steps in space

Science fiction author David Brin speculates on the future of the space program. Where should we be going? Brin suggests caching supplies ahead of sending a manned mission. David Brin is the author of books such as The Postman, Startide Rising, The Transparent Society and The Uplift War. For more information, visit: http://www.davidbrin.com/
Follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DavidBrin1
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• Category

  Science & Technology

[950horsepower]

Yeah, I figure it's like a trip to the summit of Mt. Everest. It would be impossible without a series of way stations and supply depots.

A captured asteroid, like Apophis would make a nice space platform. A real space station, in orbit around the sun, and not the Earth would help.

[bookmanpc]

The problem is fear. Fear somebody, somewhere won't agree, fear that the TINY amount of the budget will make the news cycle.

Gutlessness will keep feet muddy till it is too late.

[KKM121]

Thanks for shearing your political view. But, it doesn't matter much to me which ideology you support. My main intention is not to challenge any political view.

However, I do want to point out that every ideology has a place on the political spectrum, including liberalism and libertarianism in any sense.

[KKM121]

I understand how wealthy Elon Musk is. But its all relative.

If you compare the size of SpaceX to the aerospace giants, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and ULA, then SpaceX is small. SpaceX has a chance against them not mainly because SpaceX is a big company, but because of SpaceX's innovation.

Same applies when comparing Tesla Motors to major car companies like GM.

Elon Musk said himself that this is like David vs Goliath.

[Au Bot]

I don't know if you can call SpaceX a small company. It's already getting bigger and it was founded and it's owned by multi-billioner Elon Musk, the kind of people the Left dislike.

I'd like to add that I'm neither left-wing or right-wing, I'm a liberal/libertarian in the European sense.

[KKM121]

Does the Right support small businesses too?

America's space industry was dominated by big companies like Boeing until recently when smaller companies like SpaceX can compete with them. If the Right's support of the big companies can get them financial support for their political campaign in return, then its not surprising for Obama to support the private sector.

[Au Bot]

No (I know this was posted a year ago). The Left is generally in favour of government-run programs and the public sector, while the Right prefers that private companies run things. That's why it was surprising that the Obama administration let the private sector into NASA's spacefaring business.

[gheorghe cojocaru]

to move phobos to low earth orbit ,to be mined ,how many rs 68 would be neaded ,how much h2 would be...

[gheorghe cojocaru]

What about the cosmic radiation , there seam to be no consensus on what type of shilding one neads ?

[gheorghe cojocaru]

how much water would P hobos have ?

[TheSinn3ri]

sounds like mars one project... but mars one project dont got ticket back to earth

[Dan Bloom]

is it 10:53 on the Moon as Wittgenstein once asked? check the time on the clock here...