Most of us in the Constellation Program are still in shock about the decition to kill our program. Sure we had our problems, but we are human afterall. We were proud to be working on such an exciting program; to go STAY on the moon, to figure out how to live on the moon and in turn how to live on Mars. To figure out how to travel to another planet, and put us there first! We will be truely heartbroken to see China do what we were planing on doing.

Assuming that the next President restarts the program in 2013, that is still time (and with it knowledge) lost. I have always believed that America should lead the way in space exploration.

I shudder at the thought of commercial space companies developing new vehicles to get the U.S. into space. They haven't done it in the past and I don't think they have the safety record for it. Maybe we can sell all our stuff to China. After all, they own most of the U.S. now.

I find it very disappointing. I was born in 1958 and grew up with NASA producing all sorts of exciting discoveries all the time. I was sure that we'd have people living on the Moon by now. *sigh*

It isn't the safety issue that makes me doubt that commercial businesses will develop new space vehicles. It's the lack of an immediate profit to show stockholders. Especially in this high taxation environment that our POTUS is creating.

Maybe that is not so bad. We don't need to go to Mars or the Moon. God gave us the earth as a very habitable place. Lets take care of it and enjoy it. God obviously didn't intend for us to live anywhere else, because he didn't make it hospitable to our needs.

I too grew up with the space program. I served pizza to Alan Bean (Apollo 12 & Skylab) when I lived in Houston. Living in St. Louis now, I drove to the Kennedy Space Center earlier this year to watch the Ares I-X launch. I'm trying like mad to get down to watch one of the last shuttle launches this year. My heart goes out to all who will be affected by this asinine decision (those who currently work in the space program as well as those who cater to us tourists). I was surprised (in a good way) by the number of foreigners who were touring Kennedy when I was there. Many, many dollars spent that will likely be drying up now. How many jobs will TRULY be affected by the cut in funding? There are those who feel that this has all been a big waste of money and would rather see the funding go to more entitlements. We as a nation are certainly richer for having invested in manned space exploration to this point. It truly saddens me to think that this may be coming to an end for now (hopefully only temporarily).

Mel -

So we aren't supposed to be at the top of the tallest mountains because the air is too thin for most everyone and we aren't supposed to explore the oceans because we have lungs instead of gills?

I certainly expect your opinion. My belief is that God set man apart from all others of his Earthly creation and gave us the curiosity, the drive and the intelligence to explore and "subdue" his creation. Space exploration is the ultimate (and unforgiving) challenge for mankind and my belief is that, one day, space travel will become as ubiquitous as cross-country travel.

The moon also promises a potential solution to our energy needs (IE: Helium 3/Fusion). Exploration, national security concerns, advancing technology and energy concerns would more than suggest we continue with a manned colonization program. Apparently, the Obama administration is just giving lip-service to potential alternative energy sources.

Didn't that little country...umm, err...Iran...just launch a satellite? Seems a bit ill advised to abandon our program at this time. But then I bow to obama's superior knowledge in matters of the defense of our country.

This decision i agree with. Space must not be monopolized. It creates a greater risk to our national security.

How sad it is to watch Obama kill the space program in lieu of the global warming farce. It seems indicative of him and his administration to take this country to new lows.

It saddens me to watch this happen during my generation, and I only hope that my children will have a better place to live, but I highly doubt it. By the time Obama and liberals get done "governing" the country, there will be nothing left, except a hugh debt to the Chinese. I'm waiting for the day that the Chinese call in the debt. Then what happens? Do we then become a Chinese occupied nation?

All I can think of is that JFK rolled over in his grave on this decision. Who the heck is auditing Washington DC, if they think there is no budget for NASA? Outside of a HUGE US military presence, NASA is one of the few prominent civilian agencies with any global respect. And now it's just been castrated. Why do we pay taxes, again?

Why do we pay taxes? So that politicians can live on the dole for the rest of their lives, in comfort that average U.S. citizens cannot afford, so that the president and his wife can have servants and protection for life and a Cinderella existence, so we can support the U.N. and every country on the planet in need, so we can wage wars at a drop of a hat, feed the hungry of the world who stab us in the back, save countries from foreign occupiers, etc.

We cannot even begin to appreciate how much NASA research has done for us so far, how many products that we take for granted today are the result of R & D at NASA.

shari -

What makes you think the Chinese aren't already collecting their pound of flesh on our debt? They may have told Obama to stand down so as they would have an unobstructive path to the Moon & beyond or they would stop funding our debt. Why engage in a race when you can clear the field and ensure that the prize will be yours.

kev: My sarcasm detector is a little rusty, so I'll just assume you were being a bit snarky with that last sentence.

anthony: What makes you think we're monopolizing space? Futhermore, as far as our national security, if other countries have a presence in space, and we do not, that would make us LESS secure, by any logic I am aware of.

NOW This, when is enough, enough?

Another point I've been made aware of is that not only did Obama "zero-out" the NASA budget, but he did a real poor job of detailing HOW the "transition" to private industry would unravel.

Let's review then, bad plan, bad execution...what comes next is "bad results" folks!

I hope Tony isn't correct, but I wouldn't bet against him.

This is an unfathomable tragedy. It's like saying we should stop investing in Science and Technology.

The Dark Ages of Obscurantism are there again, it's very clear to me now. As much as this is not popular for America as a Nation, let's just hope the Chinese don't go the same way and pick up the torch for the rest of humanity, else we're headed for Big Trouble.

Of course, with that you definitely can say bye-bye to your standard of living. Not that it has improved significantly in the past decade, right? As for your retirement... If, like me, you're in your fifties, do you seriously believe there will be money left when it's your turn to retire?

As much as it may sound unpopular and politically incorrect, what we really need in our society is to get rid of the "damn blood-sucking lawyers". When you realize that we produce 10 times more lawyers than engineers in this country (the opposite ratio of the Chinese), it's no surprise we end up with asinine government decisions such as this one...

And Obama calls that "The Rule of Law"?... Yeah, right, it's more like "The Rule of Lawyers"!!!

There is no way obama is going to get away with this and if he finally does it will be the end of his reign as a generally well liked man and become the beginning og the evil man who killed our space industry, jobs, and the prestige that goes along woth both!

Are you kidding me, of course the Americans are supposed to lead the way!!! im in high school (senior) and im going to college to study physics and astronomy im going to need the support, wouldnt you people want to be living in a new place or when our world blows up we should be on our way to mars! or even better somewhere similar to earth..?!

I agree with you all except on one point. Everyone here is acting like there's still some way to save America and all our technological brilliance. The truth is though, America has been dead now for decades.

The last Americans were the WWII generation. They defeated the Nazis, won us the biggest war in history, brought Comiunism to its knees, put us on the moon, etc.

What have we done? Destroyed Nasa, destroyed capitalism, destroyed the best health care system on Earth, lost how many wars, given up on science and technology.... The list goes on and on.

Every empire in history has three stages.

#1 The bold and adventurous leave the old orders and build the new empire.

#2 These people's off spring make the new order great and they overcome the old orders which have become weak in materialism.

#3 The new order becomes old, people give up on technology, and start leaching off the strong, triggering their leaving (and the founding of a new order) and the empire colapses.

I just like to thank your generation for leaving mine absolutly nothing. No (decent) health care, no national security, no jobs (China), no where to advance technology (Nasa), nothing.

While you people are obviously not the ones that screwed my generation over, I'd just like to let you know that your generation will for ever be remembered as the people that killed everything good about the world.

This is what happens when a marxist, commie is put in as our commander in chief. For those of you who voted for him- you deserve this and I'm happy. For those of you who didn't, I'm sorry and I feel for you. NASA is an American icon, one of the last great things that this country stands for and develops. I'm sure the next president will be speak-ably more conservative if not a full blown conservative (after what this monster has put us through.) and we'll reinstate NASA. In fact, I'm quite confident of it. Obama- just hurry up and jump off a cliff or at least hurry up and become a lame duck in November! HURRY because most of us DESPISE YOU!

Ok, come on now let's be real - I partially agree with Obama on this we need to really concentrate on earth right now , there are so many things that are in need of help on earth , if we would concentrate our efforts more on the problems that we are facing on earth we will be in much better shape ... It is sad that most of you forget that we are in this hole not due to Obama but due to BUSH!!!!! he is just trying to get this country back on track and out of this black hole that has been created by his predecessor..Spending obsence amounts of money in space is ridiculous, crashing payloads and spending millions of dollars to fix is irresponsible at best. Let's put the blame where it really should be .... GET OFF OF OBAMA AND RECOGINIZE.... and to answer the comment from the person who said " who voted for Obama" Let me ask you a question. " who voted for Bush?" and look what he has done and now is sitting back on a ranch sipping tea after he has destroyed this country............... GET REAL

uhh the moon has huge deposits of titanium on it. if we could mine that we would be rich. another poor move by our commander and chief. i shudder to think whats next...

i wish we could be on the moon. it would be the ultimate base. just watching are enemies over 9000 miles away. we could fire are lazars at aliens and stuff. if we had any. what am i typing. lets just say obama has a the rest of his term, then we get palin.

- the end.

I know of no program using taxpayer's dollars that has a higher rate of return per dollar. Much of the technology that Americans and other nations enjoy spun out of the Space program.

I was recently in the midst of being hired by NASA and received a notice that they had lost funding. They say they would still like to hire me in a couple of months...

So much for creating jobs Mr. Obama.

We need a "To infinity and beyond" attitude. we need vision to explore and yes even to utilize the solar system and beyond.

Slim

If we mine on the effin moon, removing the titanium, the mass would decrease, thus the gravitational pull would be thrown, altering the moon-Earth-Earth-Sun orbits... not a good idea, ConcernedCitizen. You mustn't be an adult citizen, because if you were, your common sense would've told you that was a stupid thing to post.

We should be dealing more with Earth and restoring its stability before we all die, not silly moon jizz... that'll still be here to study in the near future. We can only use NASA's technological advances if we don't off ourselves first.

But I do love NASA, so I'm not your friend until 2011, Mr. Obama.

Although i understand why Obama cut the funding, I'm not too sure it was the correct decision. Instead of funding all the failing countries, or having war in the middle ease, as well as providing billions for the illegal state of Israel, we should concentrate on having the most advanced technology in the world. Technology=power=wealth=prosperity.

Obama needs to reconsider his approach. I cant wait till re-elections to replace this president. It is obvious he is too naive to rule our great but falling nation

with all that we have done in the ways of exploring space..shutting down the program isn't just the dumbest thing he has done yet but the most irresponsible. Seriously, if you want to help your nation feel safe to live in their own homes...then cut back on your toilet bowl cleaning fund or what not. but not the one single way we have to help montior others and protect our nation from a possible attack from space none the less. Its not all just movie effects...it is VERY realistic...I mean come on I know 5yr olds what are smarter.

Maybe the US gov. has found out something and knows there is no need for a space program after all...

this is crazy! how can we stay ahead if he cuts funds? he's wasting money on his worthless programs and he cuts funds for NASA?

Wow I cannot believe obama did this there are sooooo many other thing that could have been cut. For instance I was working for a farmer this summer and he goes into these govt programs. One of the programs paid $7000 to cut down trees! And there was another that paid $100000 over 4 years for doing things he was already doing. The requirements were to rotate cattle every 10 days, plant a cover crop and a couple other things I cannot remember. Oh yha don't for get you can get paid to leave patches of water alone they pay $500 or something like that. Just to mention it the farmer thought it was stupid too but he figured since it was there why not take it? I would take free money if I could get it. Also NASA did allot with space but they are also the reason we have some of the stuff we use everyday only one I can think of off the top of my head is that temper pedic bed.