LedZeppfan77 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 This was very strange timing. I had just talked to my wife about Armstrong and she got the names mixed up with Lance. I said Neil was the first human to set foot on Mars and I believe he is dead. I did indeed think he was dead and was going to go check my website and got side tracked. then this news comes down the same night. Wow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cryingbluerain Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Neil Armstrong's Letter to Barack Obama. Neil Armstrong was a private man, but he stepped back into the spotlight in 2010 to oppose the administration's new policies on NASA, which he felt were deeply misguided. The United States entered into the challenge of space exploration under President Eisenhower’s first term, however, it was the Soviet Union who excelled in those early years. Under the bold vision of Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, and with the overwhelming approval of the American people, we rapidly closed the gap in the final third; of the 20th century, and became the world leader in space exploration. America’s space accomplishments earned the respect and admiration of the world. Science probes were unlocking the secrets of the cosmos; space technology was providing instantaneous worldwide communication; orbital sentinels were helping man understand the vagaries of nature. Above all else, the people around the world were inspired by the human exploration of space and the expanding of man’s frontier. It suggested that what had been thought to be impossible was now within reach. Students were inspired to prepare themselves to be a part of this new age. No government program in modern history has been so effective in motivating the young to do “what has never been done before.” World leadership in space was not achieved easily. In the first half-century of the space age, our country made a significant financial investment, thousands of Americans dedicated themselves to the effort, and some gave their lives to achieve the dream of a nation. In the latter part of the first half century of the space age, Americans and their international partners focused primarily on exploiting the near frontiers of space with the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. As a result of the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003, it was concluded that our space policy required a new strategic vision. Extensive studies and analysis led to this new mandate: meet our existing commitments, return to our exploration roots, return to the moon, and prepare to venture further outward to the asteroids and to Mars. The program was named "Constellation." In the ensuing years, this plan was endorsed by two Presidents of different parties and approved by both Democratic and Republican congresses. The Columbia Accident Board had given NASA a number of recommendations fundamental to the Constellation architecture which were duly incorporated. The Ares rocket family was patterned after the Von Braun Modular concept so essential to the success of the Saturn 1B and the Saturn 5. A number of components in the Ares 1 rocket would become the foundation of the very large heavy lift Ares V, thus reducing the total development costs substantially. After the Ares 1 becomes operational, the only major new components necessary for the Ares V would be the larger propellant tanks to support the heavy lift requirements. The design and the production of the flight components and infrastructure to implement this vision was well underway. Detailed planning of all the major sectors of the program had begun. Enthusiasm within NASA and throughout the country was very high. When President Obama recently released his budget for NASA, he proposed a slight increase in total funding, substantial research and technology development, an extension of the International Space Station operation until 2020, long range planning for a new but undefined heavy lift rocket and significant funding for the development of commercial access to low earth orbit. Although some of these proposals have merit, the accompanying decision to cancel the Constellation program, its Ares 1 and Ares V rockets, and the Orion spacecraft, is devastating. America’s only path to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station will now be subject to an agreement with Russia to purchase space on their Soyuz (at a price of over 50 million dollars per seat with significant increases expected in the near future) until we have the capacity to provide transportation for ourselves. The availability of a commercial transport to orbit as envisioned in the President’s proposal cannot be predicted with any certainty, but is likely to take substantially longer and be more expensive than we would hope. It appears that we will have wasted our current $10-plus billion investment in Constellation and, equally importantly, we will have lost the many years required to recreate the equivalent of what we will have discarded. For The United States, the leading space faring nation for nearly half a century, to be without carriage to low Earth orbit and with no human exploration capability to go beyond Earth orbit for an indeterminate time into the future, destines our nation to become one of second or even third rate stature. While the President's plan envisages humans traveling away from Earth and perhaps toward Mars at some time in the future, the lack of developed rockets and spacecraft will assure that ability will not be available for many years. Without the skill and experience that actual spacecraft operation provides, the USA is far too likely to be on a long downhill slide to mediocrity. America must decide if it wishes to remain a leader in space. If it does, we should institute a program which will give us the very best chance of achieving that goal. Neil Armstrong Commander, Apollo 11 James Lovell Commander, Apollo 13 Eugene Cernan Commander, Apollo 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 ^ always there to turn something into political fodder for yourself... RIP Mr. Armstrong and condolences to his family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cryingbluerain Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Regarding the letter, Armstrong’s belief in a strong NASA program sending humans into space, even to the distant reaches of Mars, will be decided by a different generation of politicians. Hopefully they listen to the voices of the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 There are 4 plaques/stars honouring the Apollo 11 mission on each of the 4 corners of Hollywood & Vine. I took these at the one on the Southeast corner...my favourite because it is next to Maria Callas' star. FYI, Gene Autry is the only one with 5 stars on the Walk of Fame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docron Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I'm not sure how that happened but I imagine some heads must have rolled at NBC meanwhile I can only guess that Neil Young got a good chuckle out of it. Then there's this... Wow I didn't know Neil looked so old back in the 60's (should have photoshopped from buffalo springfield) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Neil Young probably has been to the moon and without a space ship. :^) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) Neil Young probably has been to the moon and without a space ship. :^) I met a man from Mars. He picked up all my guitars And played me traveling songs. And when we got on ship He brought out something for the trip And said, it's old but it's good Like any other primitive would. Edited August 28, 2012 by Jahfin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I knew it! :^) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.