02-23-2017, 03:28 PM
Great essay by Howard Bloom, one of the governors of the National Space Society:
How to Get Back to the Moon in 4 Years--This Time to Stay
I think he's spot-on here. If NASA's purpose really is to advance the settlement of space, rather than to provide jobs in key congressional districts, then we really should scrap SLS and Orion, and leverage these innovative space companies. SpaceX and Blue Origin for transportation, and Bigelow Aerospace for habitation — that frees NASA to focus on infrastructure and innovative techs like lunar mining, power, agriculture, etc.
But that's just me... what do you all think about it?
How to Get Back to the Moon in 4 Years--This Time to Stay
I think he's spot-on here. If NASA's purpose really is to advance the settlement of space, rather than to provide jobs in key congressional districts, then we really should scrap SLS and Orion, and leverage these innovative space companies. SpaceX and Blue Origin for transportation, and Bigelow Aerospace for habitation — that frees NASA to focus on infrastructure and innovative techs like lunar mining, power, agriculture, etc.
But that's just me... what do you all think about it?
Joe Strout
Lead Developer, High Frontier