Russian vision for manned spaceflight the latest Russian space doctrine aims for Mars first. To reach a Mars landing, RKK Energia, Russia’s premier developer of manned spacecraft, displayed a multitude of planned space vehicles, including a transport ship, a nuclear-powered space tug, and a planetary lander system. Together they would make up what the agency is calling the Interplanetary Expeditionary Complex.
The US is going .... somewhere. Maybe.
Current budget constraints confronting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration make it virtually impossible to sustain manned missions to the Moon, Mars or further into space in coming decades, a blue-ribbon study group [the Augustine Commission] is expected to tell the White House.
Where is the next John F. Kennedy?
Not in this administration.
[Update & bump]
"Going back to the moon, landing on an asteroid or planting a flag on Mars will not happen without a major investment of tax dollars and time, a member of the White House appointed panel established to develop future options for NASA told The Times this afternoon."
"'It's pretty clear NASA needs more money,' said Dr. Ed Crawley, panel member. 'We basically said human exploration beyond low Earth orbit is not obtainable within the fiscal year 2010 budget. We did not find a credible plan that would fit within the budget.'"
"The Augustine Commission has released a preliminary executive summary to the White House offering suggestions for NASA's future human exploration direction."
Well, dang!
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