Mission
I just consulted the primary NASA website, and, believe it or not, their mission statement is this: "NASA's vision: To reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind."
That is the vaguest, most ridiculous mission statement I've ever seen. One's mission must be clear, concise, and something to which you can list specific goals for achieving. Of course, NASA's mission is political because they are walking a very fine line caused by ignorant people who think the money going to NASA should be used to feed the poor (but those same people never say the same thing about the useless and vastly more expensive Middle East wars).
NASA is a rudderless ship. They list projects, one of which is "Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle" capable of taking four astronauts to Mars....but...are we committed to going to Mars? "W" said yes, Obama says no. In my opinion we will not be ready for a mission to Mars for 50 years because we need an advance in propulsion.
Another project is operating the US laboratory on ISS. Trouble is, now we need Russia to get us there. And another: "to design and build aircraft that are safer, more fuel-efficient, quieter, and environmentally responsible."
I think NASA should have a 50-year mission of unmanned exploration of the Solar System and a new, practical propulsion system 1000X more efficient that we have now.
