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Buzz Aldrin’s quest for a real spaceship

By John Dodge | November 26, 2009, 6:05 AM PST

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin advocates extending the life of the Space Shuttle by five years in a back to future column yesterday in The Huffington Post. From there, commercial concerns would leverage Shuttle technology to build future runway land-able space vehicles.

He’s highly critical of NASA’s new old strategy of developing space capsules which are not reused and whose living conditions leave (no bathroom) much to be desired.

I met Aldrin in June at a 40th anniversary celebration for Apollo 11 at MIT. He’s passionate about U.S. space leadership and thinks we are relinquishing it other nations anxious to prove their prowess in the heavens and stick it to the U.S. in the process. “In search of a real spaceship” is a fascinating read by one who’s been there. Happy Thanksgiving Day.

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About John Dodge

John Dodge was a contributing editor for SmartPlanet from 2009 to 2010.

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RE: Buzz Aldrin's quest for a real spaceship

GuntherGump,

I'm gonna steal your line for a future post. It's too good not to use! (I'll attribute it to you...send me your real name, title and location on Twitter...@thedodgereport....)

"Chinese remove American flag from Moon's surface, calling it space trash and disposing of it."

Posted by John Dodge

3rd Dec 2009

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RE: Buzz Aldrin's quest for a real spaceship

I hope u succeed in your quest...

AdamHart
http://www.isopurewater.com/

Posted by AdamHart

27th Nov 2009

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RE: Buzz Aldrin's quest for a real spaceship

With a look at the book The Space Shuttle Decision
NASA's Search for a Reusable Space Vehicle. A better spaceship would have emerged if the politician had kept their quiet and allow NASA to do their job. As usual through it was all about money.

Posted by Agnostic_OS

27th Nov 2009

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RE: Buzz Aldrin's quest for a real spaceship

Everything in the U.S. is about money these days....sad commentary on the times and our country.

Posted by John Dodge

30th Nov 2009

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The days of leadership are gone - well, in this country atleast.

It is really sad to see our country run by those that want power and money for themselves. (e.g. - all our most recent presidents since Reagan). What happened? Well, many people know what happened - and say it is still happening. Only now are they starting to raise their voices - now that things have gotten bad enough. Only now because it's evident ethnics, moral character, genuine integrity, and stewardship have all but left the leadership here in the Great US of America. How do you get something pure and of value? Torch it. Burn off the impurities! Only now are we starting to see the American Public turn up the heat on Washington. Let's hope we all keep applying the heat until we see something pure and valuable in Washington.

I'm proud to be an American. I'm proud of what our Flag stands for and what our founding fathers envisioned for this country. With what God has given this country, much is expected out of us! We must keep it up. We must continue to lead the world in food production, ethics, human rights, technological advances, etc., etc.. The desire to do all of what I just mentioned is still present in America. What's the problem? The problem is that Washington wants to control it and get a slice of it. Time to tell our politicians to get the h-e-ll out of the way. If we can do that, you'll see this country flourish like no one has ever seen the likes of - again!

Let's teach our kids to be dreamers and to be proud of their country and to respect its role in the world today - and to adhere to its founding principles.

I know I'm not politically correct. I'm right.

Posted by GuntherGump

30th Nov 2009

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How about the Air Force?

Can we get the Air Force to build us a space ship? Some geniuses invented the SR-71 Blackbird a while back. It was decades ahead of its time. Let's round up those guys and throw money at them to give us something like that again - but for space!

I'm sure some of them would love a visit from Mr. Aldrin.

Let's round up our rocket scientists and put them back to work.

Or how about this Headline!?

Chinese remove American flag from Moon's surface, calling it space trash and disposing of it.

It it's place, they'll shape the dust to be a Chinese flag visible to telescopes trained on the moon's surface.

Posted by GuntherGump

30th Nov 2009

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RE: Buzz Aldrin's quest for a real spaceship

If, as Agnostic_OS said, that NASA had been able to keep doing the spectacular job they did of fulfilling JFK's challenge, we probably have already had an outpost on the Moon by now, the ISS would have been finished 10 years ago, and we might have even had a manned landing on Mars by now.
We currently have "all our eggs in one basket" here on Earth. For us to not take every opportunity to expand our horizons is beyond foolhardy; it is suicidal.

Posted by JTF243@...

30th Nov 2009

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RE: Buzz Aldrin's quest for a real spaceship

Money is such a bothersome thing. Seems that everyone wants it all spent on what they think is most important. The only trouble is people tend to disagree on what is most important. The economy? Jobs? Infrastructure? R&D? Space exploration? National defense? International aid and development? Climate change? I figure that, as long as we remain a democracy, we will be stuck with providing some funding to all of these and more.

I see some interesting ideas in this thread, though. Involving the Air Force in spaceship design and development, for instance - except that the rest of the world would probably see this as a thinly veiled attempt to expand international "relations" beyond the earth's atmosphere (Star Wars, anyone?)

Posted by Ken Ferry

1st Dec 2009

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RE: Buzz Aldrin's quest for a real spaceship

Posted by John Dodge

3rd Dec 2009

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