NASA cancels lunar rover after Trump vow to return astronauts to the moon
Source: The Hill
NASA has ceased work on its only lunar rover, the Resource Prospector, raising concern among some scientists about how "serious" the space organization is about fulfilling President Trump's recent vow to send astronauts to the moon.
The Resource Prospector was being constructed to operate the first mining expedition on the moon in the 2020s, but a scientists told The Washington Post that the team was instructed last week to shut down work on the project by the end of May.
NASA said it is still "planning a series of progressive robotic missions to the lunar surface," but will look to the commercial space industry to complete the mission. An update to the projects page on the NASA website notes that selected instruments from the rover will be landed on the moon.
However, a group of lunar scientists, in a letter to newly confirmed NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, say that cancelling the project will derail the timeline for returning to the moon and shows that NASA is not serious about that goal.
Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/technology/385617-nasa-cancels-lunar-rover-despite-trump-vow-to-return-astronauts-to-the-moon
keithbvadu2
(36,829 posts)Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)Trump will provide!
Bengus81
(6,931 posts)Pretty soon Trump will tell his WV base that the good ship Stormy will run on coal all the way to the moon. Anything to suck a vote out of some DUMB SHIT.
groundloop
(11,519 posts)The stupid bastards are going to privatize as much of the good work that NASA does as they can, which of course will increase costs and coincidentally maybe enrich a few of Spanky's billionaire buddies.
longship
(40,416 posts)Primary research is one of those things. Building unique big things is another. The Saturn V was not a private enterprise project for a reason.
groundloop
(11,519 posts)Many of the things that NASA does are not something that a private company could make money on, yet they are vitally important to our country. Climate research is a big one that comes to mind, Spanky and friends would love to see that go away.
longship
(40,416 posts)ragemage
(104 posts)Let that sink in...the new head of NASA has zero science experience. He was a Navy pilot and is a republican congressman (of course...) He hedges on climate change and is against LGBTQ rights (again, of course he does...)
So the guy in charge of the agency with a pretty heavy science requirement is not a scientist or even has any background in scientific research
But he is a republican and is a congressman, is not a big fan of climate science and doesn't like LGBTQ - so he is a perfect fit!
keithbvadu2
(36,829 posts)turbinetree
(24,703 posts)but a prospector was going to being sent........................just like going from east of this country into the west.................and looked what happened.
LunaSea
(2,894 posts)turbinetree
(24,703 posts)human travel into space and to continue to exploit and pollute another celestial body, just like some manifest destiny decree..................just great, look in a telescope and see some robot mining for something to make a buck.....................
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)Since the topic of most SF is the colonization of the Moon and other planets in the Solar System and galaxy. Here's a clue. The Moon is DEAD, it will STAY dead.
Scientists like Hawking have stated we must colonize the Solar System and galaxy to survive. You don't want the human race to survive, too bad. You can take your Luddism and file it in 13.
BTW, it is SO ironic you use a smilie throwing a computer.
turbinetree
(24,703 posts)without them we would be dead, especially the moon, I will be dead many times over after the moon loses the gravitational pull from the earth, I just don't want to look in my telescope and see some machine digging it up to make a buck, lets say for nickle.
And thanks for the compliment, I will keep your thoughts in mind, ..........mankind is fucked up...............
EX500rider
(10,849 posts)Are you worried lunar native inhabitants will be abused somehow?
Or that we will pollute the non-existent atmosphere?
Frankly if we have a choice of strip mining the earth or the airless dead rock called the moon I know what I pick.
"and see some robot mining for something to make a buck."
or to maybe keep modern civilization going?
I would choose not to return to a hunter-gatherer type society, and to do that we need lots of stuff that come out of the ground.
turbinetree
(24,703 posts)this one can be used as a example of how we treat everything...........no respect.
This planet can't even feed its self.......................with the ones that are in charge now...................
EX500rider
(10,849 posts)Maxheader
(4,373 posts)from lunar projects? The mining thing sounds like a cheetoz
brainfart...but is Nasa just giving lip service about working
lunar programs to keep the funding flowing? I thought MARS
was the direction things were developing?