2008-06-16T18:15:23Z opencongress.org tag:opencongress.org,2007:/bill/comments/50709 2008-06-16T18:15:23Z tag:opencongress.org,2008-06-16:/comment/25846 Anonymous Manned space flight is a scam. The moon robot programs exist to take the last jobs from the shuttle and manned flight from Florida to California and JPL. The space program should use more robotics, humans aren't necessary(unless you need a scoop of earth). The cost of human space is too high and by the time we've colonized Mars we could have terra formed the entire planet and moved. Robots are cheaper and better at the tasks. 2008-06-10T09:07:55Z tag:opencongress.org,2008-06-10:/comment/22019 gscoville Without this authorization, or one like it, NASA will be unable to close a projected 5-year gap (2010-2015) between the time it decommissions the Space Shuttle and the time it has another craft that can transport American astronauts to the International Space Station. In short, without this bill (and a subsequent appropriation), Congress will have to wastefully spend tax dollars to buy seats on Russian shuttles for American astronauts. The authorization will also enable NASA to continue funding R&D, education, and innovation programs in the areas of sciences, technology, mathematics, and engineering. There is a huge deficit in STEM education in the US and there are not enough young people pursuing careers in these areas to keep up with agency turnover and retirement figures. It's no secret that the United States is far behind the curve in these areas; by continuing to fund the programs, NASA will hopefully be able to revitalize interest in space in America's youth.