# Please tell me they're not already talking of scaling back the Space Program! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111 "2003-02-01T16:14:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/1 "2003-02-01T16:14:06Z")
[Columbia is lost.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2925816#post2925816) But, already… yes already!.. (it’s 10:12am, Saturday) …there is talk about scaling back the Space Program. I fear for all the conspiracy theories that are sure from come from this too… Open forum. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/2 "2003-02-01T16:26:03Z")
I said it in the other forum and I’ll say it here. Nothing would show more disrespect for the dreams these people gave their lives for than the scaling back of the space program. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/3 "2003-02-01T16:28:23Z")
Amen, **Azael** ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/4 "2003-02-01T16:52:55Z")
What if early aviators scaled back their efforts whenever someone died? What some people don’t seem to grasp is that space flight is not like schlepping onto an MD-80 – and _those_ have been known to crash. Test-flying is a dangerous business. What’s the figure? A test pilot at Edwards AFB in the 1950s had a one-in-four chance of not coming home? And yet those pilots would go out to their experimental aircraft every day. Sometimes there would be a stand-down to try to figure out what happened and to try to make sure it doesn’t happen again. A stand-down is a good thing. But “scaling back” would be an insult (IMO) to those aviators who took to the skies starting over 200 years ago and continuing to the present day. Yes, the loss of _Columbia_ is tragic. Loss of _Challenger_ was tragic. Loss of the crew of _Apollo I_ was tragic. But the important thing is that we learn lessons from these tragedies, apply those lessons, and then move on. If we scale back the space program, then all of those people who have given their lives over the centuries in the pursuit of flight will have died in vain. We must lick our wounds, learn our lessons, and then get flying agian. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/5 "2003-02-01T16:57:33Z")
> [@](#): > > **How Did You Die?** > \*by Edmund Vance Cooke (1866 - 1932) \* > > Did you tackle that trouble that came your way > With a resolute heart and cheerful? > Or hide your face from the light of day > With a craven soul and fearful? > Oh, a trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce, > Or a trouble is what you make it. > And it isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts, > But only how did you take it? > > You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what’s that? > Come up with a smiling face. > It’s nothing against you to fall down flat, > But to lie there-that’s a disgrace. > The harder you’re thrown, why the higher you bounce; > Be proud of your blackened eye! > It isn’t the fact that you’re licked that counts; > It’s how did you fight and why? > > And though you be done to death, what then? > If you battled the best you could; > If you played your part in the world of men, > Why, the Critic will call it good. > Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce, > And whether he’s slow or spry, > It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts, > But only, how did you die? “It’s nothing against you to fall down flat, But to lie there-that’s a disgrace.” Find out what went wrong. Fix it. Fly again. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/6 "2003-02-01T17:05:53Z")
The ignorant pinheads will want us to stop launching shuttles. We owe to all those who’ve lost their lives in the pursuit of space travel to see that the space program continues better than ever. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/7 "2003-02-01T19:26:15Z")
**NoClueBoy** , I’m curious as to who exactly is calling for scaling back the space program. Certainly not Bush, I’d wager (back in 1986, Reagan right away said scaling back was out of the question), or key members of Congress this early on. Most likely the folks talking about doing that are pundits looking for face-time on tv, or some other political non-entities who have no effect on actual NASA funding. ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/8 "2003-02-01T20:30:24Z")
Bush said in his address that the program will move along. I’m willing to believe him. He has already invested into Prometheus and I think successfully launching a nuclear Mars mission after the tragedy would raise peoples spirits. If anything I hope that this makes Nasa seriously consider changing the ship designs. The current ones are outdated (not in a mechanical sense but we can do better). I would like to see Columbia replaced with a next generation shuttle. There is no way to justify stopping the space program. It would dishonour those who have died. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/9 "2003-02-01T20:39:43Z")
In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=160038&pagenumber=5) **Doctor** writes: [quote] One thing I will note on the positive side, a poll on Netscape ([www.netscape.com](http://www.netscape.com)) shows the following: \*\*Poll: In light of the tragedy, the space program should: Continue despite the risks. 88% Continue with only unmanned missions. 7% Be abandoned. It’s too dangerous. 6% [quote] If you think we should continue, you may as well go over and vote. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/10 "2003-02-01T22:21:21Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* \*\*In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=160038&pagenumber=5) **Doctor** writes: [quote] One thing I will note on the positive side, a poll on Netscape ([www.netscape.com](http://www.netscape.com)) shows the following: \*\*Poll: In light of the tragedy, the space program should: Continue despite the risks. 88% Continue with only unmanned missions. 7% Be abandoned. It’s too dangerous. 6% > [@](#): > > If you think we should continue, you may as well go over and vote. \*\* I just did. Thanks for the link. It’s not often I fit into a majority. Honor those who died by going even further. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/11 "2003-02-01T22:40:02Z")
Looks like it’s time to dig out the t-shirt I picked up after the _Challenger_ explosion; it had a drawing of (IIRC) a shuttle on the launch pad and the words “I **still** want to go.” ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/12 "2003-02-01T22:50:31Z")
I think a “Space Exploration” US quarter would be cool. Hey, they’re doing all the states, why not the USA’s final frontier? ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/13 "2003-02-01T23:04:24Z")
_Ad astra per aspira_. I may be mangling the ol’ Latin there. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/14 "2003-02-01T23:35:51Z")
I’ve always liked the motto of Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB: _Ad Inexplorata_. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Doctor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/15 "2003-02-01T23:38:11Z")
Damn right we need to keep up the space program. Yes the loss of the Columbia is a terrible tragedy, but we do not quit because of 1 set-back. NASA needs to find out what went wrong, fix it, and get right back into space. Keep pushing the frontier, keep learning more, make space flight safer, but, for God’s sake, don’t stop. Scientific research is 1000 times more important than any money put into war and other BS going on around here. This a salute to those willing to take the risks and go despite the danger. – Doctor ---
**Author:** ![SnugTheJoiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@SnugTheJoiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnugTheJoiner)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/16 "2003-02-01T23:58:45Z")
I expect that the space program will NOT be scaled back, but we WILL see a moratorium on shuttle flights for a bit while investigations are made to see if NASA can keep this from happening again. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/17 "2003-02-02T04:07:54Z")
In my opinion, to bowl forward without testing other shuttles and the debris is reckless. To scale back a largely successful program because of this is foolish. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/18 "2003-02-02T04:13:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LurkMeister \* > \*\*Looks like it’s time to dig out the t-shirt I picked up after the _Challenger_ explosion; it had a drawing of (IIRC) a shuttle on the launch pad and the words “I **still** want to go.” \*\* I wish I had one of those. Though if I’d had it in 1986 it’d be way too small for me now, since I was nine. Cool. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/19 "2003-02-02T05:21:42Z")
I said it in another thread, but… …If you want to honor these people, this is what you have to do: Put a human being on Mars. Have that human leave behind a small memorial, a stone or a plaque or something, that bears the names of every astronaut and cosmonaut that have given their lives to get there, and says “We came here to honor these people, and for the benefit of our species.” And keep going. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111/20 "2003-02-02T06:49:34Z")
Very well said, **Johnny L.A.**. Thank you also for the poem. [sub]Am I a terrible person because your first post made me picture the Peter Arno cartoon wherein an engineer turns away from the crash of an experimental aircraft, rubs his hands briskly and says, “Well, back to the old drawing board”?[/sub] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-theyre-not-already-talking-of-scaling-back-the-space-program/152111.md?page=2)