| Chapter Twenty-Four of Pax Americana: The Military Industrial Complex and the War On Terror by Danny Quintana |
| Martian Peace: A Manned Mission to Mars |
A rat done bit my sister Nell with whitey on the moon
her face and arms began to swell
and whitey is on the moon
I can't pay no doctor bills
but whitey is on the moon
ten years from now I'll be payin' still with whitey on the moon
ya know? the man just upped my rent last night cause whitey is on the moon
no hot water no toilets no lights
but whitey is on the moon
I wonder why he's uppin' me? cause whitey is on the moon
well I was givin' him 50 dollars a week
and now whitey is on the moon
Taxes takin' my check
the junkies make me a nervous wreck
the price of food is goin' up
and as if all that crap wasn't enough
a rat done bit my sister Nell
with whitey on the moon
her face and arms began to swell
with whitey on the moon
with all that money I made last year
put whitey on the moon
how come I aint got no money here?
Hmmm whitey on the moon
ya know I just about had my fill
of whitey on the moon
I think I'll send these bills air mail special
to whitey on the moon
Help can't even help now
and whitey is on the moon
aid for my brothers and sisters
how whitey is on the moon
guess well just sit by dyin'
with whitey on the moon
dogs have better luck at there tails tryin'
whitey is on the moon
fed up us people are
and whitey is on the moon
the slogan poverty or bust
later to whitey on the moon
John Coltrane
her face and arms began to swell
and whitey is on the moon
I can't pay no doctor bills
but whitey is on the moon
ten years from now I'll be payin' still with whitey on the moon
ya know? the man just upped my rent last night cause whitey is on the moon
no hot water no toilets no lights
but whitey is on the moon
I wonder why he's uppin' me? cause whitey is on the moon
well I was givin' him 50 dollars a week
and now whitey is on the moon
Taxes takin' my check
the junkies make me a nervous wreck
the price of food is goin' up
and as if all that crap wasn't enough
a rat done bit my sister Nell
with whitey on the moon
her face and arms began to swell
with whitey on the moon
with all that money I made last year
put whitey on the moon
how come I aint got no money here?
Hmmm whitey on the moon
ya know I just about had my fill
of whitey on the moon
I think I'll send these bills air mail special
to whitey on the moon
Help can't even help now
and whitey is on the moon
aid for my brothers and sisters
how whitey is on the moon
guess well just sit by dyin'
with whitey on the moon
dogs have better luck at there tails tryin'
whitey is on the moon
fed up us people are
and whitey is on the moon
the slogan poverty or bust
later to whitey on the moon
John Coltrane
The political fight over how to spend tax dollars will always exist. Politics is a fight over control of resources, our own or other people’s. But
spending tax dollars on social programs does not mean there will not be anything left for space exploration. These are not mutually exclusive
events. If we expand the space program, reduce defense spending and increase the spending for ocean exploration and preservation of the
fish stocks by creating wildlife zones does not mean we cannot fight global hunger and poverty. Government programs do not necessarily
succeed in "fighting poverty". Read "Hunting & Gathering, An Urban Youth Survival Guide". Money is a concept. Either we have studied these
concepts and understand them or we lack financial resources and are "financially challenged". I have seen very smart people in one area of
life not have great financial resources. And I have know some very rich people who are truly dumber then a box of rocks. True wealth is good
physical and mental health and family and friends that love us. Being rich is not all that. What Coltrane and others do not realize is that
"government" is not responsible for our well being. I have seen very poor people do some very vicious things to their family and supposed
friends. The world’s poor will walk among man for all of our days on the Earth. Space exploration is too important for mankind to compare it
with social services spending. This spending is a policy decision on the direction of our entire society.
spending tax dollars on social programs does not mean there will not be anything left for space exploration. These are not mutually exclusive
events. If we expand the space program, reduce defense spending and increase the spending for ocean exploration and preservation of the
fish stocks by creating wildlife zones does not mean we cannot fight global hunger and poverty. Government programs do not necessarily
succeed in "fighting poverty". Read "Hunting & Gathering, An Urban Youth Survival Guide". Money is a concept. Either we have studied these
concepts and understand them or we lack financial resources and are "financially challenged". I have seen very smart people in one area of
life not have great financial resources. And I have know some very rich people who are truly dumber then a box of rocks. True wealth is good
physical and mental health and family and friends that love us. Being rich is not all that. What Coltrane and others do not realize is that
"government" is not responsible for our well being. I have seen very poor people do some very vicious things to their family and supposed
friends. The world’s poor will walk among man for all of our days on the Earth. Space exploration is too important for mankind to compare it
with social services spending. This spending is a policy decision on the direction of our entire society.
Not funding exploration and eventual colonization of Mars because of cost is like not funding Columbus’ voyage of exploration because there
were better ways to spend money. Spain and Europe had millions of poor people at the time the age of exploration began. Europe was just
recovering from the Dark Ages brought about from the fall of Rome. Exploration is a basic human drive because we are a very curious animal.
Adventure is in our DNA. Clearly President Thomas Jefferson could have chose not to provide the $2,500.00 in funding for the Lewis and
Clark expedition because there were better ways to spend money and the risk of loss of human life. In exploration, cost is not the
determinative factor for a policy decision. It is a factor but not the primary consideration. We can as a society chose not to fund art because of
cost or beautification of our parks and cities. But is that a society that we want to live in? What will it cost to explore Mars and eventually
colonize this neighbor? The estimates vary from $35 Billion to over $450 Billion depending on whether or not it becomes a bureaucratic
nightmare led by NASA or if is pursued by the private sector. 1
Our bloated military budget exists to enable the United States to fight over the limited resources on Earth and invade other countries and
secure access to fossil fuels. This black gold will eventually run out regardless of our military might. New fighter planes, the missile defense
system or even the war in Iraq will not produce one additional barrel of oil or worse yet, create any more new oil. Our dependency on Middle
East oil will only get worse with the Iraq war. That is the reality of life which will not change regardless of how much more money is spent on
defense or "da poor". Exploration on the other hand will produce long term benefits for mankind.
were better ways to spend money. Spain and Europe had millions of poor people at the time the age of exploration began. Europe was just
recovering from the Dark Ages brought about from the fall of Rome. Exploration is a basic human drive because we are a very curious animal.
Adventure is in our DNA. Clearly President Thomas Jefferson could have chose not to provide the $2,500.00 in funding for the Lewis and
Clark expedition because there were better ways to spend money and the risk of loss of human life. In exploration, cost is not the
determinative factor for a policy decision. It is a factor but not the primary consideration. We can as a society chose not to fund art because of
cost or beautification of our parks and cities. But is that a society that we want to live in? What will it cost to explore Mars and eventually
colonize this neighbor? The estimates vary from $35 Billion to over $450 Billion depending on whether or not it becomes a bureaucratic
nightmare led by NASA or if is pursued by the private sector. 1
Our bloated military budget exists to enable the United States to fight over the limited resources on Earth and invade other countries and
secure access to fossil fuels. This black gold will eventually run out regardless of our military might. New fighter planes, the missile defense
system or even the war in Iraq will not produce one additional barrel of oil or worse yet, create any more new oil. Our dependency on Middle
East oil will only get worse with the Iraq war. That is the reality of life which will not change regardless of how much more money is spent on
defense or "da poor". Exploration on the other hand will produce long term benefits for mankind.
Our military was second to none. Our economy had provided a middle class life of liberty and freedom for millions. We had the most powerful
global currency and the “environment” was not yet a big concern. Population pressures still seemed manageable. The nuclear arms race was
a concern, but we did not really believe that civilization would end in a holocaust. There was competition with the Soviet Union and Red
China for global hegemony and we were winning.
But arrogance precedes a fall. The cracks in our empire were becoming evident. The Vietnam War was going badly. The year before our
moon landing, in 1968 Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were murdered. Race riots engulfed numerous cities and after the 1973 Arab
Israeli conflict, oil prices exploded in our face. Then the oil embargo of 1973-1974 gave America high energy costs and long gas lines. Like
today, unemployment continued to climb.
We had conquered nature and achieved a modern technological state. But we had no control over ourselves. As a society we have no
purpose or direction. We went from landing on the moon to lowering our sights. Instead of taking our exploration program to the next level and
explore Mars, we chose the space shuttle as our next venture outside the planet. A grand program to explore and colonize Mars never
became a priority. Like a car driving full speed with no light on and no sense of direction, America has not figured out where we are going.
And without political leadership, we will never get there.
But why should humans explore and colonize Mars? For the same reason our ancestors left Europe on ventures of exploration. At the time
Columbus and later explorers searched for a quick route to Asia, no European knew of the existence of what later became North and South
America. The knowledge base of Europe in the late 1400’s did not include two large and fully occupied continents.
Today we have abundant data of exactly how long it will take to get to Mars, where we would land people and even the types of vehicles
required to complete the mission. The technology is there. The political will and leadership is not. And it will simply be the most expensive
exploration project in human history. Which again is approximately equal to one year of defense spending by the United States. The Iraq War
has now cost more money than the full exploration and actual landing of men on Mars, the planet of war. 4 The Republicans and Democrats
were more then willing to send young men and women to their deaths and to be permanently wounded in Iraq. The cost is currently at least
$8.4 Billion Dollars per month. This money could clearly have been enough to land men and women on the Red Planet, especially if we
worked with Russia, China, Japan, the European Union, Brazil and India. Al Queda members do not understand simple things like space
exploration and think the only purpose of having "rockets" is to kill "infidels". They would not be invited.
America’s enemies are using box cutters, gasoline bombs and lobbyists. They do not have fancy expensive weapons, just fanatical zeal and a
complete misunderstanding of religion and history. Religious fanatics cannot be stopped by the most expensive weapon systems in human
history. In fact, the more we spend on our security the less security we will find. The reason is, we will become a police state and the freedom
we cherish so much will disappear with the harsh laws that monitor every movement we make, everything we smoke, everything we view in our
homes, or plant in our gardens or conversations we have with our family and friends. We will become our enemy and lose our liberty and
freedom. Then we will no longer be Americans. 5 Is this the country we want to live in? Where our own government has become so powerful to
protect us that we do not have protection from government. Detective work is what is required to find killers and fanatics, not expensive
politically connected weapons systems. 6
global currency and the “environment” was not yet a big concern. Population pressures still seemed manageable. The nuclear arms race was
a concern, but we did not really believe that civilization would end in a holocaust. There was competition with the Soviet Union and Red
China for global hegemony and we were winning.
But arrogance precedes a fall. The cracks in our empire were becoming evident. The Vietnam War was going badly. The year before our
moon landing, in 1968 Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were murdered. Race riots engulfed numerous cities and after the 1973 Arab
Israeli conflict, oil prices exploded in our face. Then the oil embargo of 1973-1974 gave America high energy costs and long gas lines. Like
today, unemployment continued to climb.
We had conquered nature and achieved a modern technological state. But we had no control over ourselves. As a society we have no
purpose or direction. We went from landing on the moon to lowering our sights. Instead of taking our exploration program to the next level and
explore Mars, we chose the space shuttle as our next venture outside the planet. A grand program to explore and colonize Mars never
became a priority. Like a car driving full speed with no light on and no sense of direction, America has not figured out where we are going.
And without political leadership, we will never get there.
But why should humans explore and colonize Mars? For the same reason our ancestors left Europe on ventures of exploration. At the time
Columbus and later explorers searched for a quick route to Asia, no European knew of the existence of what later became North and South
America. The knowledge base of Europe in the late 1400’s did not include two large and fully occupied continents.
Today we have abundant data of exactly how long it will take to get to Mars, where we would land people and even the types of vehicles
required to complete the mission. The technology is there. The political will and leadership is not. And it will simply be the most expensive
exploration project in human history. Which again is approximately equal to one year of defense spending by the United States. The Iraq War
has now cost more money than the full exploration and actual landing of men on Mars, the planet of war. 4 The Republicans and Democrats
were more then willing to send young men and women to their deaths and to be permanently wounded in Iraq. The cost is currently at least
$8.4 Billion Dollars per month. This money could clearly have been enough to land men and women on the Red Planet, especially if we
worked with Russia, China, Japan, the European Union, Brazil and India. Al Queda members do not understand simple things like space
exploration and think the only purpose of having "rockets" is to kill "infidels". They would not be invited.
America’s enemies are using box cutters, gasoline bombs and lobbyists. They do not have fancy expensive weapons, just fanatical zeal and a
complete misunderstanding of religion and history. Religious fanatics cannot be stopped by the most expensive weapon systems in human
history. In fact, the more we spend on our security the less security we will find. The reason is, we will become a police state and the freedom
we cherish so much will disappear with the harsh laws that monitor every movement we make, everything we smoke, everything we view in our
homes, or plant in our gardens or conversations we have with our family and friends. We will become our enemy and lose our liberty and
freedom. Then we will no longer be Americans. 5 Is this the country we want to live in? Where our own government has become so powerful to
protect us that we do not have protection from government. Detective work is what is required to find killers and fanatics, not expensive
politically connected weapons systems. 6
The better long term solution is to secure the resources under the ocean and
on an entire other planet rather than fight for the limited fossil fuels on Earth. It
is important for peace to direct our energy and efforts away from the planet.
Our ability to wage total war has become so complete that the continuation of
this course will destroy civilization on this small planet. We do not have the
luxury of another century of total war. The cost of another world war will far
exceed any public or private money spent on the exploration and colonization
of the red Martian planet. Even if we take the most expensive estimate of $450
Billion for a human exploration of Mars. This is still far less then one year of
defense spending by the United States. 2
The United States has the world’s largest economy and spending on space
exploration is a tiny part of the overall ten trillion dollar GDP. 3 Obviously there
are as many ways to spend tax dollars as there are individuals with ideas and
companies and organizations with agendas. So why should the United States
have a manned mission to Mars given the risk, and the expense? History
provides us with some answers.In 1969 the United States was at the zenith of
her power. We had “whitey on the moon” and soldiers in Vietnam.
on an entire other planet rather than fight for the limited fossil fuels on Earth. It
is important for peace to direct our energy and efforts away from the planet.
Our ability to wage total war has become so complete that the continuation of
this course will destroy civilization on this small planet. We do not have the
luxury of another century of total war. The cost of another world war will far
exceed any public or private money spent on the exploration and colonization
of the red Martian planet. Even if we take the most expensive estimate of $450
Billion for a human exploration of Mars. This is still far less then one year of
defense spending by the United States. 2
The United States has the world’s largest economy and spending on space
exploration is a tiny part of the overall ten trillion dollar GDP. 3 Obviously there
are as many ways to spend tax dollars as there are individuals with ideas and
companies and organizations with agendas. So why should the United States
have a manned mission to Mars given the risk, and the expense? History
provides us with some answers.In 1969 the United States was at the zenith of
her power. We had “whitey on the moon” and soldiers in Vietnam.
Five of these nations have major space programs. The French space program, the largest in Europe, is run
by the Centre National D'Études Spatiales (CNES), formed in December 1961. The French have a prominent
role in the European Space Agency and are a major shareholder in Arianespace. France also builds
advanced remote sensing satellites, such as SPOT, for commercial purposes. Two organizations, the
part-government-funded German Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR), founded on April 27, 1989, and
the fully governmental German Aerospace Agency (DARA), founded on December 24, 1988, manage the
German space program.
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA), formed on December 14, 1989, manages all Canadian participation in
space exploration such as the development of satellites and the robot arm for the Space Shuttle. The Italian
Space Agency (ASI) established in 1988 manages Italian space affairs. ASI has a major contribution to the
International Space Station and future European launch vehicles. The Ukrainian government formed the
National Space Agency of Ukraine (NKAU) on March 2, 1992. Despite a vast space industry infrastructure,
the Ukrainian space program has a relatively low profile in the international space market, although it
commercially offersits Soviet-era Zenit launch vehicle jointly with Russia. 7
Space exploration will continue with or without the United States. However, the monetary costs of traveling to
Mars is substantial but not insurmountable. 8 The recent Columbia shuttle disaster has been a setback for
the United States space exploration program and the plans for human exploration of Mars are cancelled. 9
But the Iraq War is hot and the fight is on over how much more to spend. In June of 2003, the European
Space Agency sent an orbiter to Mars aboard a Russian launch vehicle on a scientific mission. Mars
Express, the first European spacecraft to visit the planet Mars, has completed its tests at Toulouse, France.
After six months extensive thermal environmental, mechanical and electric tests, the spacecraft with the
Beagle 2 lander left for Baikonur, Kazakhstan onboard an Antonov 124 aircraft. It was launched in June 2003
onboard a Russian Soyuz-Fregat rocket.
by the Centre National D'Études Spatiales (CNES), formed in December 1961. The French have a prominent
role in the European Space Agency and are a major shareholder in Arianespace. France also builds
advanced remote sensing satellites, such as SPOT, for commercial purposes. Two organizations, the
part-government-funded German Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR), founded on April 27, 1989, and
the fully governmental German Aerospace Agency (DARA), founded on December 24, 1988, manage the
German space program.
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA), formed on December 14, 1989, manages all Canadian participation in
space exploration such as the development of satellites and the robot arm for the Space Shuttle. The Italian
Space Agency (ASI) established in 1988 manages Italian space affairs. ASI has a major contribution to the
International Space Station and future European launch vehicles. The Ukrainian government formed the
National Space Agency of Ukraine (NKAU) on March 2, 1992. Despite a vast space industry infrastructure,
the Ukrainian space program has a relatively low profile in the international space market, although it
commercially offersits Soviet-era Zenit launch vehicle jointly with Russia. 7
Space exploration will continue with or without the United States. However, the monetary costs of traveling to
Mars is substantial but not insurmountable. 8 The recent Columbia shuttle disaster has been a setback for
the United States space exploration program and the plans for human exploration of Mars are cancelled. 9
But the Iraq War is hot and the fight is on over how much more to spend. In June of 2003, the European
Space Agency sent an orbiter to Mars aboard a Russian launch vehicle on a scientific mission. Mars
Express, the first European spacecraft to visit the planet Mars, has completed its tests at Toulouse, France.
After six months extensive thermal environmental, mechanical and electric tests, the spacecraft with the
Beagle 2 lander left for Baikonur, Kazakhstan onboard an Antonov 124 aircraft. It was launched in June 2003
onboard a Russian Soyuz-Fregat rocket.
 | |  | |  |
When Spain and Portugal sent men out into the oceans on tiny wooden ships in search of shorter routes to Asia other European powers were
very slow to mobilize their societies for exploration. China, which led the way, turned inward. These policies were shortsighted and either
changed or failed. But now countries other than the United States have decided it is time to explore the inner solar system. This journey
forward will occur with or without America. And if our country gets left behind we will become the Rome of the 21st century, an empire that lost
her way. (You must read "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" by Edward Gibbons).
Several nations have expressed an interest in space exploration. These also include China that has decided to use their immense brain pool
and once again become an explorer nation. The push for exploration continues. Several other industrialized and developing nations produce
satellites, but unlike the above listed nations, do not have their own launch vehicles. Instead, they procure launch services from the United
States, Russia, the ESA, or commercial companies. These countries include Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic,
Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines,
Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates,
and the United Kingdom.
very slow to mobilize their societies for exploration. China, which led the way, turned inward. These policies were shortsighted and either
changed or failed. But now countries other than the United States have decided it is time to explore the inner solar system. This journey
forward will occur with or without America. And if our country gets left behind we will become the Rome of the 21st century, an empire that lost
her way. (You must read "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" by Edward Gibbons).
Several nations have expressed an interest in space exploration. These also include China that has decided to use their immense brain pool
and once again become an explorer nation. The push for exploration continues. Several other industrialized and developing nations produce
satellites, but unlike the above listed nations, do not have their own launch vehicles. Instead, they procure launch services from the United
States, Russia, the ESA, or commercial companies. These countries include Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic,
Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines,
Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates,
and the United Kingdom.
Mars Express, Europe's first mission to a planet, was built by Astrium , the prime contractor, with the involvement of more than twenty
European companies. Building Mars Express presented a double challenge: designing a highly complex system within tight deadlines (to meet
a fixed launch date) as well as being as economical as possible. Mars Express has been built for half the costs of similar, previous missions.
The industrial team responded to the challenge by using off-the-shelf equipment and technology already developed for the Rosetta mission.
New ways of project management and more responsibility at the initial stages of the collaboration with the European Space Agency,
successfully kept the project within the allocated time limits and budgets.
The spacecraft benefited from an exceptionally favourable launch window of June 2003; at this date, the distance separating the planets
Earth and Mars was minimal, an opportunity only occurring all 17 years. From December 2003, Mars Express was inserted into an elliptical
quasi-polar orbit. Seven scientific instruments on the orbiter performed the following tasks: global high-resolution imaging, global
mineralogical mapping, global atmospheric circulation and mapping of the atmospheric composition, radar sounding of the subsurface
structure, study of surface-atmosphere interactions, and interaction of the atmosphere with the interplanetary environment.
Mars Express also carried the Beagle 2 lander which will detach from the spacecraft and land on the Martian surface. It will collect and
analyse rock and soil samples on the spot. 10 NASA’s plans for exploration will suffer from the Columbia disaster. The shuttle program is one
of NASA’s key missions and budget concerns. 11 The problem with NASA is bureaucracies make very poor administrators for something so
innovative as space exploration. The critics of NASA are many and their costly failures with the space shuttle and in exploring Mars are well
documented by numerous sources. 12
As NASA Watch.info explain in their web site
European companies. Building Mars Express presented a double challenge: designing a highly complex system within tight deadlines (to meet
a fixed launch date) as well as being as economical as possible. Mars Express has been built for half the costs of similar, previous missions.
The industrial team responded to the challenge by using off-the-shelf equipment and technology already developed for the Rosetta mission.
New ways of project management and more responsibility at the initial stages of the collaboration with the European Space Agency,
successfully kept the project within the allocated time limits and budgets.
The spacecraft benefited from an exceptionally favourable launch window of June 2003; at this date, the distance separating the planets
Earth and Mars was minimal, an opportunity only occurring all 17 years. From December 2003, Mars Express was inserted into an elliptical
quasi-polar orbit. Seven scientific instruments on the orbiter performed the following tasks: global high-resolution imaging, global
mineralogical mapping, global atmospheric circulation and mapping of the atmospheric composition, radar sounding of the subsurface
structure, study of surface-atmosphere interactions, and interaction of the atmosphere with the interplanetary environment.
Mars Express also carried the Beagle 2 lander which will detach from the spacecraft and land on the Martian surface. It will collect and
analyse rock and soil samples on the spot. 10 NASA’s plans for exploration will suffer from the Columbia disaster. The shuttle program is one
of NASA’s key missions and budget concerns. 11 The problem with NASA is bureaucracies make very poor administrators for something so
innovative as space exploration. The critics of NASA are many and their costly failures with the space shuttle and in exploring Mars are well
documented by numerous sources. 12
As NASA Watch.info explain in their web site
NASA has a rather unimpressive record regarding Mars. However, even though the
Europeans, Japanese and British conduct Mars missions significantly more cheaply, neither
NASA's bureaucrats nor their pet government contractors (which offer them political support,
corresponding job security and even revolving doors to employment in the private sector) are
eager for you to know about alternative procurement approaches such as
entrepreneur-friendly Mars prizes. Many Washington D.C. and industry insiders believe that
we could accomplish a lot more in space if only certain pro-commercial legal reforms were
enacted that would empower newcomers to compete against entrenched tax-supported entities
such as NASA and its pet Mars contractor Lockheed Martin (which is "coincidentally" a
prominent media sponsor...). If we examine NASA's record regarding Mars thus far, it will be
apparent that reform is long overdue.
Is NASA giving taxpayers enough of a return on their investment? NASA gets around $18
billion annually, and for what? The (overpriced) $300 million Mars Odyssey mission is starting
to be a qualified success. Nevertheless, how is it that the Mars Odyssey mission can only
check for water ice merely within the initial meter of Mars soil despite the availability of more
deeply probing technologies? Meanwhile, did you know that for an extended period of time
NASA even had to completely shut down Odyssey's radiation measuring instrument, despite its
being one of the 2 main justifications for the mission? Consequently, important radiation data
collection opportunities en route to Mars were forfeited. 13
Europeans, Japanese and British conduct Mars missions significantly more cheaply, neither
NASA's bureaucrats nor their pet government contractors (which offer them political support,
corresponding job security and even revolving doors to employment in the private sector) are
eager for you to know about alternative procurement approaches such as
entrepreneur-friendly Mars prizes. Many Washington D.C. and industry insiders believe that
we could accomplish a lot more in space if only certain pro-commercial legal reforms were
enacted that would empower newcomers to compete against entrenched tax-supported entities
such as NASA and its pet Mars contractor Lockheed Martin (which is "coincidentally" a
prominent media sponsor...). If we examine NASA's record regarding Mars thus far, it will be
apparent that reform is long overdue.
Is NASA giving taxpayers enough of a return on their investment? NASA gets around $18
billion annually, and for what? The (overpriced) $300 million Mars Odyssey mission is starting
to be a qualified success. Nevertheless, how is it that the Mars Odyssey mission can only
check for water ice merely within the initial meter of Mars soil despite the availability of more
deeply probing technologies? Meanwhile, did you know that for an extended period of time
NASA even had to completely shut down Odyssey's radiation measuring instrument, despite its
being one of the 2 main justifications for the mission? Consequently, important radiation data
collection opportunities en route to Mars were forfeited. 13
Space exploration is only going to become a reality for the United States if we end NASA’s monopoly. This bureaucracy like any other
bureaucracy feeds on it’s own momentum. Like their friends in the defense sector or any other public or private organization dependant on
government largess for survival, NASA has spread her services into as many congressional districts as possible. 14 But this does not result in
better exploration of outer space. What will work for exploration of Mars and beyond is what succeed with previous human efforts at space
exploration. Competition. If Columbus was given a complete European monopoly on all sea exploration the Aztecs and Incas would still be in
power in Central and South America. It was competing explorers seeking to be the first to find more gold, more land, more expansion of
empire that moved humanity forward.
NASA’s budget for space exploration is larger then the combined budgets of the rest of the world’s space programs. 15 The result of this
monopoly in space exploration is monopolistic practices. Since costs are not competitive it is far more expensive for NASA to launch someone
into space then our competitors.
Again as watchdog group NASA Watch info observes:
bureaucracy feeds on it’s own momentum. Like their friends in the defense sector or any other public or private organization dependant on
government largess for survival, NASA has spread her services into as many congressional districts as possible. 14 But this does not result in
better exploration of outer space. What will work for exploration of Mars and beyond is what succeed with previous human efforts at space
exploration. Competition. If Columbus was given a complete European monopoly on all sea exploration the Aztecs and Incas would still be in
power in Central and South America. It was competing explorers seeking to be the first to find more gold, more land, more expansion of
empire that moved humanity forward.
NASA’s budget for space exploration is larger then the combined budgets of the rest of the world’s space programs. 15 The result of this
monopoly in space exploration is monopolistic practices. Since costs are not competitive it is far more expensive for NASA to launch someone
into space then our competitors.
Again as watchdog group NASA Watch info observes:
Do you remember NASA's horrendous treatment of Dennis Tito when he became the world's
first person ever to finance his or her own voyage into space back in April of 2001? His $20
million paid not only for his own round trip into space but also for that of the two accompanying
cosmonauts. Russia made money on the deal. In comparison, though, a single mission with
NASA's space shuttle monopoly here in the U.S. costs taxpayers around $600 million. That's
over 30 times more than what it cost the Russians to serve the world's first self-financed citizen
explorer, even though the Russians haven't lost a life in or near space in twice as long as
NASA has. Is it surprising that NASA allegedly thwarts commercial space tourism which could
otherwise compete against its overpriced, tax-supported Shuttle monopoly here in the USA?
Are we not supposed to be teaching the Russians about capitalism, and not vice versa? 16
first person ever to finance his or her own voyage into space back in April of 2001? His $20
million paid not only for his own round trip into space but also for that of the two accompanying
cosmonauts. Russia made money on the deal. In comparison, though, a single mission with
NASA's space shuttle monopoly here in the U.S. costs taxpayers around $600 million. That's
over 30 times more than what it cost the Russians to serve the world's first self-financed citizen
explorer, even though the Russians haven't lost a life in or near space in twice as long as
NASA has. Is it surprising that NASA allegedly thwarts commercial space tourism which could
otherwise compete against its overpriced, tax-supported Shuttle monopoly here in the USA?
Are we not supposed to be teaching the Russians about capitalism, and not vice versa? 16
We may have won the initial race to the moon. So what? Spain won the race to the new world. They lost the long term race of control of
resources and maintenance of empire. The ignorance of the Spanish Inquisition and the racist expulsion of Jews and Muslims resulted in the
loss of some of Spain's greatest scholars. As we have already seen, China had a much larger fleet and better technology then the Europeans
but gave up on exploration and turned inward. Nations have a choice, they can either continue to explore and expand or stagnate and
become relics of history. Mars will be explored and colonized with or without the United States. We build the world’s best military equipment.
Other nations build better cars and consumer products. Soon our lead in launch vehicle technology will end. “[T]he U.S.A. slipped to having
just 29% of the world’s launch market share in the year 2000, even though it had 48% of it in 1996, and approximately 100% of it just 2
decades ago.”
resources and maintenance of empire. The ignorance of the Spanish Inquisition and the racist expulsion of Jews and Muslims resulted in the
loss of some of Spain's greatest scholars. As we have already seen, China had a much larger fleet and better technology then the Europeans
but gave up on exploration and turned inward. Nations have a choice, they can either continue to explore and expand or stagnate and
become relics of history. Mars will be explored and colonized with or without the United States. We build the world’s best military equipment.
Other nations build better cars and consumer products. Soon our lead in launch vehicle technology will end. “[T]he U.S.A. slipped to having
just 29% of the world’s launch market share in the year 2000, even though it had 48% of it in 1996, and approximately 100% of it just 2
decades ago.”
Exploring Mars is in our best interest as a nation. It will allow our talented corporations to continue their pursuit of technological superiority. In
this century, technological superiority is essential for dominance. If we want to continue to be the preeminent world power, we must maintain
our technological lead in space propulsion systems and launch services.
this century, technological superiority is essential for dominance. If we want to continue to be the preeminent world power, we must maintain
our technological lead in space propulsion systems and launch services.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. See generally an excellent article from UC Davis, Reducing the cost of exploring and colonizing Mars.
At:www-geology.ucdavis.edu/~GEL36/GEL36Honors01/cost/cost.html The costs have been estimated by various scholars at between
$35 billion with just robots to $450 billion. Robert Zubin of the Mars Society estimates the cost at approximately $20 Billion. In his words: We
could develop all the technology needed for human Mars exploration for $20 billion. After that, each mission would cost about $2 billion. Dr.
David R. Williams, of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 has this to say about the cost: I've seen estimates for an
astronaut mission to Mars ranging from $50 billion to over $100 billion. Personally, I would guess the higher end of that would be more
accurate.” Email conversations with Robert Zubrin and Dr. Dave Williams, March 21, 2003.
2. See chapter 1supra. With the war in Iraq and the costs therein it is difficult to imagine what the overall cost to the taxpayer will be from this
policy.
3. US GDP is estimated at approximately $10 Trillion Dollars annually. See generally, CIA 2002 World Fact Book at:
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html
4. See cites supra at chapters 3, 5 and 6 supra.
5. For an excellent analysis of the erosion of civil liberties since the horrific September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, see generally: The State of
Civil Liberities: One Year Later Erosion of Civil Liberties in the Post 9/11 Era at:
www.ccr-ny.org/v2/whatsnew/report.asp?ObjID=nQdbIRkDgG&Content=153
6. See A mastermind of terror plots Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is the highest-ranking al Qaeda leader captured so far in the war against
international terrorism. By Bill Gertz THE WASHINGTON TIMES March 2, 2003 at:
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030302-68485296.htm
7. U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, Space Flight, International Space Agencies online at:
www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/space_agencies/SP45.htm see also: On-Line References:“ASI-Agenzia Spaziale
Italiana,” at www.asi.it/sito/english.htm Civil Space Agencies, Associations and Institutes,” at http://www.fas.org/spp/civil/agency/index.html“DLR
Home,” at www.dlr.de/DLR-Homepage“ESA Portal,” at www.esa.int/export/esaCP/index.html Indian Space Research Organisation,” at www.isro.
org/
“ISAS,” at www.isas.ac.jp/e/“ Le CNES Centre National d' Eudes Spatiales-agence francaise de l'espace,” at www.cnes.fr/
“NASDA Homepage” at www.nasda.go.jp/index_e.html
“Pagina Principal do INPE,” at http://www.inpe.br/
“Russian Aviation and Space Agency,” at www.rosaviakosmos.ru/english/eindex.htm
“Space Agencies Around the World,” at http://spaceboy.nasda.go.jp/note/Kikan/E/kik01_e.html
8. See supra. Some estimates are from a low of $20 billion for a robot program with samples to $450 billion
for NASA and humans.
9. Mars Trip Postponed Indefinitely by Robert N. Going Amsterdam - Mar 20, 2003 online at:www.spacedaily.com/news/oped-03x.html
10. Mars Express Leaves For Baikonur Paris - Mar 20, 2003 at:www.spacedaily.com/news/marsexpress-03b.html
11. See National Aeronautics and Space Administration web site at:www.nasa.gov/about/
12. One web site that explains in detail the numerous failures of NASA is:www.nasawatch.info/
13. See NASA's Substantial Underachievement Regarding Mars at:www.spaceprojects.com/Mars/
14. See their web site at:www.nasa.gov/about/ NASA is a very large organization that feeds on the budget process:NASA Headquarters,
Washington, DC.
+ NASA Organization Chart and list of Headquarters Offices
NASA Centers and Field Facilities
+ Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
+ Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA
+ Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, Cleveland, OH
+ Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY
+ Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
+ Independent Verification & Validation Facility, Fairmont, WV
+ Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
+ Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
+ Kennedy Space Center, FL.
+ Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
+ Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
+ Stennis Space Center, MS
+ Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA
+ White Sands Test Facility, White Sands, NM
15. Site supra at: NASAWatch.info online at:www.nasawatch.info/
16. See NASA´s crimes against capitalism in space... online at:www.spaceprojects.com/washtimes110500/
17. ibid.
1. See generally an excellent article from UC Davis, Reducing the cost of exploring and colonizing Mars.
At:www-geology.ucdavis.edu/~GEL36/GEL36Honors01/cost/cost.html The costs have been estimated by various scholars at between
$35 billion with just robots to $450 billion. Robert Zubin of the Mars Society estimates the cost at approximately $20 Billion. In his words: We
could develop all the technology needed for human Mars exploration for $20 billion. After that, each mission would cost about $2 billion. Dr.
David R. Williams, of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 has this to say about the cost: I've seen estimates for an
astronaut mission to Mars ranging from $50 billion to over $100 billion. Personally, I would guess the higher end of that would be more
accurate.” Email conversations with Robert Zubrin and Dr. Dave Williams, March 21, 2003.
2. See chapter 1supra. With the war in Iraq and the costs therein it is difficult to imagine what the overall cost to the taxpayer will be from this
policy.
3. US GDP is estimated at approximately $10 Trillion Dollars annually. See generally, CIA 2002 World Fact Book at:
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html
4. See cites supra at chapters 3, 5 and 6 supra.
5. For an excellent analysis of the erosion of civil liberties since the horrific September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, see generally: The State of
Civil Liberities: One Year Later Erosion of Civil Liberties in the Post 9/11 Era at:
www.ccr-ny.org/v2/whatsnew/report.asp?ObjID=nQdbIRkDgG&Content=153
6. See A mastermind of terror plots Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is the highest-ranking al Qaeda leader captured so far in the war against
international terrorism. By Bill Gertz THE WASHINGTON TIMES March 2, 2003 at:
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030302-68485296.htm
7. U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, Space Flight, International Space Agencies online at:
www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/space_agencies/SP45.htm see also: On-Line References:“ASI-Agenzia Spaziale
Italiana,” at www.asi.it/sito/english.htm Civil Space Agencies, Associations and Institutes,” at http://www.fas.org/spp/civil/agency/index.html“DLR
Home,” at www.dlr.de/DLR-Homepage“ESA Portal,” at www.esa.int/export/esaCP/index.html Indian Space Research Organisation,” at www.isro.
org/
“ISAS,” at www.isas.ac.jp/e/“ Le CNES Centre National d' Eudes Spatiales-agence francaise de l'espace,” at www.cnes.fr/
“NASDA Homepage” at www.nasda.go.jp/index_e.html
“Pagina Principal do INPE,” at http://www.inpe.br/
“Russian Aviation and Space Agency,” at www.rosaviakosmos.ru/english/eindex.htm
“Space Agencies Around the World,” at http://spaceboy.nasda.go.jp/note/Kikan/E/kik01_e.html
8. See supra. Some estimates are from a low of $20 billion for a robot program with samples to $450 billion
for NASA and humans.
9. Mars Trip Postponed Indefinitely by Robert N. Going Amsterdam - Mar 20, 2003 online at:www.spacedaily.com/news/oped-03x.html
10. Mars Express Leaves For Baikonur Paris - Mar 20, 2003 at:www.spacedaily.com/news/marsexpress-03b.html
11. See National Aeronautics and Space Administration web site at:www.nasa.gov/about/
12. One web site that explains in detail the numerous failures of NASA is:www.nasawatch.info/
13. See NASA's Substantial Underachievement Regarding Mars at:www.spaceprojects.com/Mars/
14. See their web site at:www.nasa.gov/about/ NASA is a very large organization that feeds on the budget process:NASA Headquarters,
Washington, DC.
+ NASA Organization Chart and list of Headquarters Offices
NASA Centers and Field Facilities
+ Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
+ Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA
+ Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, Cleveland, OH
+ Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY
+ Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
+ Independent Verification & Validation Facility, Fairmont, WV
+ Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
+ Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
+ Kennedy Space Center, FL.
+ Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
+ Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
+ Stennis Space Center, MS
+ Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA
+ White Sands Test Facility, White Sands, NM
15. Site supra at: NASAWatch.info online at:www.nasawatch.info/
16. See NASA´s crimes against capitalism in space... online at:www.spaceprojects.com/washtimes110500/
17. ibid.