Well The Space Shuttle Just Flew Over My House!

[Chuckiechan]

And I feel like I was watching a funeral procession, thanks to Obama for turning NASA into a rusted hulk like the rest of America is becoming under his leadership.

[tony_j15]

The shuttle program was designed with a 15 year shelf life in mind. Each mission costs 450 million and total costs have been over 196 billion dollars.
Meanwhile, Space-X has only been awarded total contracts for 396 million. It is profitable.

Yet another fine example of government (via We the People) creating an industry and then turning it over to the private market so that growth can occur.

[Whir]

Space-X is the coolest thing since sliced shuttle.

The only problem with privatizing space flight is that science will take a back seat to profit and we really still need the science part. The government will have to give grants to science groups to pay to be able to put scientific projects on private flights.

[Mike]

I'd rather have a privatized US company send NASA astronauts and projects into space over a Russian Soyuz launch vehicle any day!

[Whir]

Truth.

[Chuckiechan]

I have to agree with that!

I wouldn't ride a Russian skateboard!

[tony_j15]

The only problem with privatizing space flight is that science will take a back seat to profit and we really still need the science part. The government will have to give grants to science groups to pay to be able to put scientific projects on private flights.

NASA is still concentrating (supposedly) on the Mars goal, and they have plenty of projects related to research.
Overall, I think this will be a cheaper, more cost-effective, and efficient system, even with private rocket payments factored in.
But let's see how bad it can get mucked up inside of 10 years.

[Whir]

Does privatized space flight fall under FAA jurisdiction?

(sorry to muck up your post Chuck)

[Taxmancometh]

And I feel like I was watching a funeral procession, thanks to Obama for turning NASA into a rusted hulk like the rest of America is becoming under his leadership.

I remember living in California my dad and I would go to KEDW (Edwards Air force Base) and watch the shuttle land. I actually made a radio scanner from a project kit I got for Christmas and would listen to the shuttle on reentry. When you looked up at it with binoculars the shuttle was just a tiny dot in the air. Then when it got closer there were two sonic booms that echoed off the desert floor. It was amazing. Those days were true father son moments.

My dad actually worked for a company in Santa Ana making materials for the space shuttle and the F-117A. I used to own a square of carbon fiber, but now I don't know what I did with it.

[Chuckiechan]

Does privatized space flight fall under FAA jurisdiction?

Yes. They originate in US airspace, and or travel over it.

I don't think private can cut it. We have a lot of secret hardware on the shuttle. I suppose we could work something out with a private company but security would be a problem.

I suspect we have something else going on we don't know about.

[pickel]

I have to agree with that!

I wouldn't ride a Russian skateboard!

But you're, most likely, riding in some form of transportation that has parts from "CHINE" in it !!!!!!!!!!!
Better check the box when you get your car/truck/teeth () repaired .