Buzz not happy with BO

[TitoMorelli]

Tonight I heard Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin talk about his new book Mission to Mars. Aldrin made numerous allusions to the fact he was not happy with the current direction of the space program. But tonight he told a story about President Obama even more damning.

On April 15, 2010, President Obama delivered his central speech on space policy at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aldrin was given a ride on Air Force One to the speech. Aldrin said tonight in front of a packed house in a National Geographic auditorium in Washington D.C. that he presumed he might have a chance to speak with the President about options for space during the flight to Kennedy.

But it didn’t happen. President Obama had nothing to say to the moonwalker and didn’t seem to want to hear anything from Aldrin on the long flight to Florida. So Aldrin sat in the back of Air Force One and never saw Obama – until it landed.

When it landed, Aldrin said he was summoned to the front of the plane. But he found out it was not to talk about space policy. Instead, President Obama wanted Aldrin to emerge from Air Force One next to Obama for a photo op. The moonwalker was to be a mere prop.


http://pjmedia.com/jchristianadams/2013/05/08/moonwalker-buzz-aldrin-used-as-photo-prop-for-obama/


http://cdn.pjmedia.com/tatler/files/2013/05/aldrin-obama1.jpg

[badger]

No wonder Buzz looks a bit miffed at being a stage prop :(

I can vouch for what Buzz is saying, as I've personally heard it from people in the know --- George W. was a lot more interested in space program investment than the current administration.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

We need to be taken down several notches to join the regular, average, normal countries of the world. Dear Obear is doing a good job of accomplishing His goals.

[olevetonahill]

Heh, Instead of going forward like that he shoulda just told obammy to ' **** off dip ****.

[KantoSooner]

It's a difference between seeing the space program as just another R&D project on the one hand and, on the other, of seeing it as a noble endeavour to nourish an ineffable human need to explore. A textbook vs poetry. And, in this case, poor, tongue tied W is ironically the one with the poet's soul.

[SicEmBaylor]

NASA is something of a boondoggle. I'm conflicted. The current state of NASA is shameful, but truthfully I think private-space exploration is the way to go.

At the end of the day, it's likely that I would eliminate the entire agency.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

No wonder Buzz looks a bit miffed at being a stage prop :(

I can vouch for what Buzz is saying, as I've personally heard it from people in the know --- George W. was a lot more interested in space program investment than the current administration.

Just look at all the layoffs at JSC and the foreclosed homes in my neighborhood... All The Socialist's work...

[KantoSooner]

NASA is something of a boondoggle. I'm conflicted. The current state of NASA is shameful, but truthfully I think private-space exploration is the way to go.

At the end of the day, it's likely that I would eliminate the entire agency.

The government paid for the Lewis and Clark expedition, no? (actually I think Tommy J promised to pay for it, paid some and left L&C twisting in the wind for the balance, but it was a government sponsored thing...and Tommy never really was much of a money manager.)

There's a role for government spending on these sorts of things.

[badger]

Isn't NASA also responsible for satellite maintenance as well? I also recall reading somewhere that the nickel and diming has gotten to the point that we're paying more than hundred million to have Russia ferry us up there. Good thing the Cold War's over, right?

[olevetonahill]

Isn't NASA also responsible for satellite maintenance as well? I also recall reading somewhere that the nickel and diming has gotten to the point that we're paying more than hundred million to have Russia ferry us up there. Good thing the Cold War's over, right?

It will be over 350 million just THIS year

[SicEmBaylor]

The government paid for the Lewis and Clark expedition, no? (actually I think Tommy J promised to pay for it, paid some and left L&C twisting in the wind for the balance, but it was a government sponsored thing...and Tommy never really was much of a money manager.)

There's a role for government spending on these sorts of things.
I actually do accept that there is a role. I'm not claiming it's unconstitutional. Clearly no individual state could have its own space program, but that alone doesn't justify actually spending the money on NASA. More bang for the buck can be found in the private sector.

[KantoSooner]

In some things, sure. I'm happy with the way low earth stuff seems to finally be coming of age. On the more experimental front, you're still going to need government.

[cleller]

Just finished a library book called "Rocket Men", about the Apollo program up to the first trip to the moon. Very good book if you like that stuff.

Aldrin comes off as a sore loser for not getting to be the first man. He REALLy wanted to be first. One interesting tidbit, there are only about 2-3 photos of Neil Armstrong on the moon. There was one camera that both astronauts used. Armstrong took the most pictures, including plenty of Aldrin. When Aldrin's turn with the camera came Armstrong is conspicuously absent from almost all of them.

He seems like a good guy, but he loves to talk. Reminds me of Biden a little bit.

[SicEmBaylor]

Armstrong is a bit of a recluse.

[Sooner Eclipse]

Armstrong is a bit of a recluse.

Armstrong is dead. Kinda hard to be gregarious.

[cleller]

This may be a little off topic, but do many folks here consider the moon landings to be mankind's greatest achievement?

Personally, I cannot think of anything that would top it.

[soonerhubs]

I meant to post this with a comment on how ambition needs to be emphasized in all facets of life. Neil Degrasse Tyson is a hero of mine, and he truly works tirelessly to make science more appealing to the public.

His eyes look funny in the video preview, but I assure you it's worth the watch. I actually am using his discussion here as my own personal mandate to make subjects in my field more appealing to others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9thhaG74ax8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[cleller]

Here's a guy you see on PBS regularly. One of those guys you instantly know is smarter than you, with a novel approach to space travel:

sYYdh84pFng

[TAFBSooner]

I actually do accept that there is a role. I'm not claiming it's unconstitutional. Clearly no individual state could have its own space program, but that alone doesn't justify actually spending the money on NASA. More bang for the buck can be found in the private sector.

So what do you think of NASA contracting with private companies like Space X (among others) for getting cargo and people to low earth orbit?

[TAFBSooner]

This may be a little off topic, but do many folks here consider the moon landings to be mankind's greatest achievement?

Personally, I cannot think of anything that would top it.

I just hope it's not the high water mark of our civilization. "Peak excellence," you could say.

[okiewaker]

It's only a matter of time before Anarchy and Tyranny collide,,,until then,,I say fund all the space programs out there,,,,ima jet the eff out when they available.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

It's only a matter of time before Anarchy and Tyranny collide,,,until then,,I say fund all the space programs out there,,,,ima jet the eff out when they available.Lookit all the folks who have volunteered to go on the ONE WAY TICKET to Mars, just recently. Our government does not display any acceptable measure of competence, and as far as I know it's prolly AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER GOVT. out there...so, your decision seems pretty sane about now.