Obama sets Mars goal for America
President Obama’s speech at Kennedy Space yesterday was a small victory for NASA and America in general, but he did not deter from his previous outline for the US space agency. NASA will receive an extra $6 billion over the next five years. This will be used to fund the continuation of the Constellation’s Orion crew capsule program, which is now slated to merely be a lifeboat for the ISS.
Obama’s long term vision for NASA remains focused on deep space research and travel, stating,
By the mid-2030s, I believe we can send humans to orbit Mars and return them safely to Earth. And a landing on Mars will follow. And I expect to be around to see it.
This statement lacks clear definition. Obama’s addition of the words “I believe” make this statement indecisive. In contrast Kennedy stated in 1961,
We choose to go to the moon in this decade…because that challenge is…one we are unwilling to postpone.
Kennedy was direct in his order. In 1961, it wasn’t something that he “believed” could be done, going to the moon was something that will be accomplished.
The flag of the United States will be planted in the red soil of Mars one day, but until we truly commit to the idea, we’ll remain grounded.
