Astronaut and former senator John Glenn slams Bush space program

[ringmastery]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040304/sc_nm/space_bases_dc_2

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S. space pioneer John Glenn said on Thursday that President Bush (news - web sites)'s space exploration plan "pulls the rug out from under our scientists" and might waste too much money to ever put astronauts on Mars.

Glenn, a retired Democratic senator from Ohio and the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth, said NASA (news - web sites) should not abandon research on the International Space Station (news - web sites) and questioned the advisability of using the moon as a stepping stone to Mars.

His stinging rebuke of the Bush plan came in testimony before the presidential commission charged with developing a strategy for building a permanent base on the moon, then sending astronauts on to Mars. The commission met at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Glenn's home state of Ohio.

The octogenarian space pioneer's most cutting comments were reserved for NASA's plans to gut the International Space Station of a once-ambitious research agenda, limiting science only to studies applicable to the moon and Mars program.

"We have projects that are planned or in the queue now, projects that people -- academics and laboratories and companies -- have spent millions of dollars to get ready," Glenn said. "That pulls the rug out from under our scientists who placed their faith in NASA, and our scientists within NASA who devoted years and years to their work."

[pmbryant]

1. Glad to hear him speak out so strongly

He is right on the money.

:thumbsup:

Peter

[JohnnyFianna1]

2. John Glenn-the man that should've pummeled Reagan N/t

[sonias]

3. Glenn's testimony "refreshing in its candor."

You tell them Senator Glenn. bu$h isn't going to get the money for these missions anyway. He's just trying to get a "vision" thing to politicize. We will never get a manned mission to Mars via the moon, the moon will suck up all the money. But that's their plan anyway. Call it exploration when its all about getting a military installation in space via the moon.

Sign on to save Hubble too.
http://www.savethehubble.org/petition.jsp


quack, quack, quack, quack

Sonia

[roscoeroscoe]

5. thank you!!!!!

please save the hubble, the greatest scientific instrument of all time, which is being flushed down the toilet by the bush regime. it's a anti-scientific move that's a waste and a disaster.
the answer to the ol' question about the bush regime, 'stupid or evil?'
BOTH!!!!

[BootinUp]

4. hahahahahhaha - Another Bush booboo

He just can't get anything right. John Glenn is still one of the most repected men in America. Hope this story gets good circulation.

[Doomsayer13]

6. here's an idea - Glenn for VP

he might help us win Ohio... but is he too old?

[TrueAmerican]

8. Glenn just flew on the space shutlle

He's in better shape than men half his age.

[Blue_Roses]

7. I've been wondering when

John Glenn would speak out...he's great:)