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2014-05-27 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Are U.S. Sanctions Isolating NASA Instead of Russia?

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Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-05-27 16:03|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 Been thinking about the whole shebang.
The government should have 3 interests in space.
1) Fostering companies to exploit space in some way. Not a new frontier for government exploration and voyages. Help capitalistic firms move into space and make money off it. In the process providing jobs, product, science and revenue for the nation (if not the government)
2) National Defense
3) Science in the national interest that is too hard to do on Earth.

So the ISS space station should have some lessons about building space habitats. The first is that big tin can space stations are likely too expensive and not useful and flexible enough for private enterprise or the military. Perhaps they are only doing little science to justify Big Science positions and organizational structures much the same way that university research fiefdoms have made college too expensive for the masses.

Perhaps it would be better to subsidize a few launches of Bigelow's small inflatable stations so he can create a business renting or selling them to corporations. This would eventually bring the price down and instead of needing stuff the ISS for research space the gov could just rent or buy space when the project is important enough for the project. Let the mining companies and exploration companies and research companies then make money in space doing what the market says is right to do up there. Not what some bureaucrats or scientists or politicians decide is right and proper to do in space. It should be a Wild West style free for all in space. Think about it!

Posted by 3dc 2014-05-27 18:36|| 2014-05-27 18:36|| Front Page Top

#2 Mayhaps the civilian government footprint in space should be a Police Station in space.

Posted by 3dc 2014-05-27 18:38|| 2014-05-27 18:38|| Front Page Top

#3 Consider the New World. There is good evidence all sorts of peoples and cultures visited it over the Millenniums.
What was the difference with Christopher Columbus?
He had Plans!

He had plans to Exploit the New World using Old World slaves if required!

Posted by 3dc 2014-05-27 18:45|| 2014-05-27 18:45|| Front Page Top

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