reply to post by SaturnFX
A liberal democratic and a communist are a contradiction in terms. Anyway, yes I do believe we must get back into space ASAP and get to the moon and
set up a permanent base there. Obama cancelled the Orion rocket that would have gotten us back into space and I had a screaming crying tantrum. Until
I checked into why he did cancel it and what he did afterward.
More then any other President Obama has pushed hard to promote private industry in making and launching rockets including manned ones, with the help
of our deep space tracking capability and NASA. I have always believed the only way to truly open up space is for private companies to do things they
can do better then bloated government programs.
Sure the US space program had lots of private contractors but if you just want one example of a bad idea and very dangerous space craft just look at
the thankfully retired US space shuttle. A bloody death trap and no way to get the crew out if something went wrong before, during and post launch.
That was supposed to be a fully reusable two stage vehicle, and take off vertically and or take off/land horizontally. So many corners were cut that
thing should never had been used, until we got it right. Now were much closer.
But Gingrich is in la-la land if he has any delusion, and seems to have quite a few that we would ever fund a government program like this. Where will
we get the money? As things are going now a lot of that money is not coming from tax payers but private investors who believe in a flexible and robust
American Space Program. I'm someone who has put my own money as an investor where my beliefs and what I think is a vital need are.
The US government is paying these companies to build rockets to launch multiple payloads, including up-coming NASA probes that will knock your socks
off when people see what they can do, and get where ever at a reasonable price. Why? Because several companies are getting in the act and that
competition is very good for all, mostly tax payers.
There is also the largely unknown but very impressive military space program. Rumor has it they're looking at several new advanced launch rockets for
their own needs. It is also rumored that the military has had advanced aerospace planes, including specialized anti-satellite and antimissile fighters
and "satellite snatchers" that have been in the inventory for some time. But thats just a rumor...
But Gingrich? Why doesn't he just go to Tiffanies and leave the rest of us alone...
, and instill us with pride. 
I thought I was the only one agreeing with Gringrich on this one... it was going to be my secret shame but I guess I'm not the only one. 
