NASA Puts New Rocket on Launch Pad for Test Flight

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I have this funny feeling that if an errant asteroid or rogue comet should darken our skies sometime in the near future, and we face total destruction of "life as we know it"- The same people that berate the space program and suggest that we hand the money off to the deadbeats of society (Notice that they never suggest that we be allowed to keep the money); will be the ones crying "Why hasn't the government been doing something about this!?"

Redbird01 of WA 3:37PM October 21, 2009

If the government spent less money on stupid rockets and more time regulating the banks and wall st, maybe america might be better off!

james of IL 11:29AM October 21, 2009

Gay marrige should be between a man and a woman!

elJay of CO 11:10AM October 21, 2009

I guess the generational difference here is that Americans once could think of a greater purpose for their country's resources, and look past their own nose and imagine something bigger.
This is no longer the case.

Ted of IL 10:15AM October 21, 2009

I want to know what purpose sending a rocket into space serves, besides wasting tax dollars that could be put into Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps, Low Income Housing, Healthcare, or many other domestic good and worthwhile programs. I think space should not be a federal program. Make it a private agency where if the government wants to send a satellite into space they can pay the private agency cash money to send the satellite up into space. Sort of like you already do when you buy an airline ticket to go on a flight from point A to point B. I can think of better uses, as described above, for our tax dollars. Let us wake up and smell the coffee, here, people. For crying out loud.............

Jared K. of MT 10:03AM October 21, 2009

The globalization of the space flight and exploration industry is healthy, promoting innovation and efficiency through competition. After eclipsing the Soviet Union shortly after the human species introduced itself to the final frontier, The United States, though faltering at times has both gladly and boldly lead space exploration.
But over the past decades, we have become paralyzed by the beurrocratic, litigious, paranoid and narrow minded nature of our leadership. Gone are the days when the United States and it's leadership risked all hazards to facilitate a public thirsty for adventure and the expansion of the new frontier. The new CEV has it's merits. But where is the quantum leap in technology that once propelled American exploration and industry?
So know this: If the United States abandons it's manned space program, it will quite visibly proclaim to the world it's intentions to resign it's role as a global power in favor of the immediate decadence of the modern age. If our leadership refuses to manifest the qualities a booming space aerospace industry requires of it's leadership, then let them privatize the space industry and roll back the pointless over regulation preventing it's eager expansion.

Warren McClendon of KY 8:32PM October 20, 2009

When mankind ceases to explore the unknown, ceases to push the frontiers, it's all over but the dying. If Obama cancels the moon/Mars mission, it will prove just how short sighted an individual he truly is. Not a JFK in sight!

rummy of OH 4:27PM October 20, 2009