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Author
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Topic: BACK TO THE MOON
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072069
Member Posts: 206
From: Sayreville, NJ USA
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 07:58 AM
   
Well, I had a wonderful commute this morning to work. I grabbed my usual copy of the New York Post and was greeted by a full-color front page pic of Buzz Aldrin with the headline: "BACK TO THE MOON." The article rehashes some of the news already printed here at CollectSPACE along with a prediction that President Bush would make the official announcement on December 17 (the 100th anniversary of Kitty Hawk). If true, it'll be sure to make the Space Imperatives Conference in Washington, DC on December 18th one grand affair for sure!You can read the full story today at: http://www.nypost.com/ Bernie |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 12-04-2003 08:56 AM
I would like to be optimistic, but you may recall his father gave a similar speech in 1989. |
space-auction.co.uk
New Member Posts:
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posted 12-04-2003 09:01 AM
China hadn't put a man in space in 1989.  Looks like the race is back on!Craig (with fingers crossed ) [This message has been edited by space-auction.co.uk (edited December 04, 2003).] |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 09:04 AM
The biggest difference is that Bush the Elder was a little grander (and thus more unrealistic) with his vision, pushing for a relatively near-term mission to Mars.
From all the reports I've heard, what's in discussion now is intended to be a more "practical" approach, rooted in more mature technologies. |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 12-04-2003 09:07 AM
That's true. That might be a difference this time.I remember when I heard what Michael Collins said when he received the Langley Medal. He said Apollo 11 had been the result of the Cold War competition between the Soviet Union and the US. At the time I thought that was a very unsentimental theory. But it is now the accepted idea of why we went, at least so soon. You are right, depending on what China does, this time might be different. |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 09:07 AM
Of course, here's the cloud for this silver lining: http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/nation/7377246.htm [This message has been edited by DavidH (edited December 04, 2003).] |
Rick Boos
Member Posts: 851
From: Celina, Ohio
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 12-04-2003 09:12 AM
See my posting under topic "Out Of This World"
Rick |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 12-04-2003 09:12 AM
That's a good article - depressing, but good.  |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 10:21 AM
Also, here's one from National Review yesterday: http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/powell200312030858.asp
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Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-04-2003 01:19 PM
I was present at the Last Bush "Return to the Moon" speech. The First Bush that is. It was July 20, 1989, the 20th anniversary of the moon landing In Washington, DC. Mostly I remember VP Dan Quayle addressing the assembled astronauts as "Fellow astronauts..." Without solid objectives the plan went no where. That's the one problem I find with NASA. Their public relations does not sell the program. I'm not saying we need to package NASA like we do soft drinks, but we can establish firm objectives and relay it to every citizen on a level that they will feel NASA is working for them, not in spite of them. That is the one thing the militiary will always do. Most of us are too afraid not to support any militiary action, since no one really knows the effects of such an action until its over. |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 01:36 PM
Re: Selling the program...
NASA has some pretty cool movie-trailer-style "ads" for the Mars rovers up on the homepage: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/m2k4/trailers.html
OK, for a moment, imagine the audience reaction if the third trailer was played before, say, Return Of The King. Think it might help promote a little interest in the missions?
Every time you go see a movie, you see a government-paid ad encouraging you to join the military.
Why couldn't these ads be coming soon to a theater near you as well? |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-04-2003 01:50 PM
Now, I know this is not a good idea to all of those who are space purists.. but lets end the old rules that NASA can not accept commercial "endorsements " if you will. Pizza Hut paid millions to have their logo launched on the side of a booster. If NASA can get more money to fund Space Flight by selling advertising, whats the big deal? This launch brought to you by Nestle'.. or for this landing you might have that other insurance AFLAC.. have the shuttle squish that damn duck..It might look tacky ( OK..It will look tacky!!) but the more $$ NASA has the better the future of Spaceflight, and after all.. isn't that the bottom line? |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 02:20 PM
Well, probably the most obvious problem is that even if it's paid advertising, it could be seen as a form of endorsement. A lot of people (particularly kids, a big spaceflight audience) are going to think that means NASA likes Pizza Hut more than Papa John's or whatever.
Plus, where do you draw the line? Drug co. ads are big money today, and what better way to sell Viagra than with 7 million pounds of thrust.
Budweiser spends a phenomenal amount of money on sponsorship advertising. "We have liftoff of the Budweiser Endeavor!" just doesn't sit right with me, for reasons that have nothing to do with a being a spaceflight purist.
Thanks, but no thanks. |
Rizz
Member Posts: 1208
From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-04-2003 02:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by DavidH:
Drug co. ads are big money today, and what better way to sell Viagra than with 7 million pounds of thrust.
Good one!
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Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 12-04-2003 02:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by DavidH:
what better way to sell Viagra than with 7 million pounds of thrust.
And launched in Florida, no less! You guys are too funny. Thanks for the laugh. |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-04-2003 02:48 PM
.. there are way more companies than the ones who make beer and Viagra.. ( although if you paint the external tank light blue ..) of course it would have to be reasonably tasteful.. just imagine the CollectSpace Atlantis orbiter headed to the Trump Alpha station..!! Ahhhhhhhhh the possibilities |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 02:50 PM
quote:
of course it would have to be reasonably tasteful
But that's my point. Once you start saying one group can advertise but another can't, then you are, in essance, making endorsements--NASA is willing to advertise one group, but not another. And that's just not a position that NASA, or any government agency, needs to be in.[This message has been edited by DavidH (edited December 04, 2003).] |
072069
Member Posts: 206
From: Sayreville, NJ USA
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 03:02 PM
It can actually be done in a somewhat dignified way. Look at how the Olympics does it, for instance. They choose one "official" sponsor in each category and use those monies to pay for the event.Bernie PS: Do they still make Tang? |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 12-04-2003 03:07 PM
quote:
Originally posted by John K. Rochester:
just imagine the CollectSpace Atlantis orbiter headed to the Trump Alpha station..!! Ahhhhhhhhh the possibilities
I'm afraid you are being too optimistic, John. The CS Atlantis would never come to fruition, due to ceaseless infighting amongst the design team.  |
nojnj
Member Posts: 503
From: Highland Heights, KY
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 04:04 PM
Fox news had a report a few minutes ago that stated Bush was committing to a return to the moon. Didn't catch much of the story, but Shepard smith was interviewing Jim Lovell about the report.------------------
Evan |
Danno
Member Posts: 572
From: Ridgecrest, CA - USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 12-04-2003 04:07 PM
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,104800,00.html quote:
Originally posted by nojnj:
Fox news had a report a few minutes ago that stated Bush was committing to a return to the moon. Didn't catch much of the story, but Shepard smith was interviewing Jim Lovell about the report.
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DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 04:09 PM
Yeah, but that's just the NY Post story that was posted at the start of this thread.[BTW, this is my 100th post. Cool, huh?] [This message has been edited by DavidH (edited December 04, 2003).] |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-04-2003 04:20 PM
The most definitive articles on what Bush may or may not announce are being published by Keith Cowing with NASA Watch: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=902 http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=894 |
Carrie
Member Posts: 225
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 06:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 072069:
PS: Do they still make Tang?
Yes, my nephew likes it (and he won't eat much)! I see a few canisters of it in the store, next to the lemonade, and am tempted to buy some to see if I still like it; I did as a kid. At the time, I didn't know it had come out of the space program...I really would have liked it, had I known that I also loved the non-carbonated orange drink McDonalds used to have in the 70's; now that, I think, is extinct! Carrie |
072069
Member Posts: 206
From: Sayreville, NJ USA
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 12-04-2003 07:06 PM
During the Apollo years, my brother and I drank nothing *but* Tang! And look at me now. Still looking up at the stars :-)Bernie |
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