Monday, August 01, 2005
Nobody Comes Close
I've heard a lot of NASA and Shuttle bashing over the last few days. Yes, NASA is not efficient at what they do. Yes, the Shuttle program has always been a boondoggle, and Yes... we've wasted the last 30 years of our existence mulling about in low-earth orbit studying how mice and plants react to zero-gravity.
Yet at some point one needs to take a step back and ask the question... what have other nations done in space? The answer is quite simple... nothing. Compared to what we do today and what we've accomplished over the previous 40 years, nobody comes close.
Do we need to scrap the Shuttle program ASAP? Yes. Do we need to rethink our priorities in space? Yes, and we've already started. (Read up on the latest focus on the Moon and Mars) Do we need to privatize most of our space efforts? I say yes, but that's an argument for a different day.
Today, no matter what criticisms you might hear about our nation and our Space agency, never forget that we are the best at what we do.
Nobody comes close. Nobody.
posted by El Capitan at 2:35 PM
1 Comments:
Some Soldier's Mom said...
not to mention the inventions and conveniences that we all benefit from when NASA goes exporing... velcro, microwaves, hand-held electronics... clothing, food... the list is endless, really. The space program has given back way more than we ever imagined (and frankly, it's been a hell of a ride!!)
7:19 PM