NASA - what should we do with it?

[Copernicus]

The US has numerous facilities dedicated to Space, such as:

http://www.nasa.gov/about/sites/index.html


In light of the economic downturn, do you think we should rethink how we utilize these assets (including land)?

If so, how would you reallocate the assets?

I'm thinking we need to continue with the Space Program, and possibly utilize at least a few of the locations for education - but they most likely are already involved in higher education.

Any ideas? Btw, that's a great website

[LEFT]

I say cut Congresses salaries and fully fund NASA.

[Copernicus]

Good point.

Did you see the link? Of course, I knew about Canaveral, Johnson and the JPL, but this is the first time I had seen all the facilities on a map. Quite impressive collection of research and operational facilities. Must take on hell of a chunk out of the budget to keep them running, but I think we need to put ever dollar and MORE into these places

[Copernicus]

Btw, been to Johnson Space Center years ago, and visited Kennedy a few times.. have never been to the others.

I'm pretty sure they have tours at the JPL - now THAT would have to be totally awesome. Has anyone ever done that?

[LEFT]

They are new and improved for visitors down in ClearLake. We went a couple years back. I wanna go again now after this read and Baldy's thread...

Great day trip.

(and you can buy that dehydrated ice cream in the gift shop)

[Copernicus]

Our last Disney Cruise, we took our kids and my friends kid to Canaveral - had a blast. I only wish I could have seen a shuttle blast from the site.. We've seen 'em from a number of miles away, while pulled over onto the side of the road

[Baldy]

I stayed home from work the first time the Shuttle was taken up on a 747 and released, just to see it fly on TV.

I was driving into Disney World, the traffic in front of me stopped and people got out of their cars and were looking up, so I did the same and there it was on the back of a 747, being brought the Cape for the first time. The pilot of the 747 lived in Orlando and was given permission to circle at a fairly low altitude.

I was flying in to New Orleans just after it's first flight into space, we were in a holding pattern waiting our turn to land and the 747 flew close by, returning it to the Cape from it's first flight into space.

I so wanted to see it take off at least once, before it is retired, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

[Copernicus]

I've seen about 5 launches, but always from a distance. The first time had to be around 1995 - I was headed south on 95 towards West Palm when I was listening on the radio. Pulled off the side of the highway along with everyone else, and watched it soar on up.

A couple times, did this on the road towards Canaveral, but couldn't get close enough.

Twice, we were able to watch all the way in Ybor City/Tampa from the roof of the office building I had worked in.. clear days and you could actually see it across the state as it headed on up.

Very cool stuff!

[StoneTheCrow]

We could always see the launches pretty well from where we lived, I especially loved the night launches.