posted 02-25-2004 05:46 PM               

Are there any good sources of information out there for what's planned? The only thing I've heard so far is a budget, which to my ears sounds totally unrealistic for what the program is intended to accomplish. I'm wondering if the details that have been released so far are any more reassuring.

(One nice thing about a return to the moon -- It will put the "moon hoaxers" right back where they belong, with the flat earthers and the holocaust deniers...)

Martin

posted 02-26-2004 10:12 AM               

To the best of my knowledge, not a lot of additional long term information has been released, in that it will probably take some time for the details to work out.

NASA has created a new Office Of Exploration Systems, an enterprise-level division on a par with, for instance, the Office Of Space Flight. Current programs, including those related to next-generation spacecraft technology and things like the JIMO Jovian moon mission have been moved to the new office.

The president has submitted a budget to Congress which contains the additional funding for FY 2005 to support the initiative.

The President's Commission On Implementation Of United States Space Exploration Policy has been formed and has begun meeting. The Commission's Web Site is: http://www.moontomars.org