XPost: alt.space, alt.politics, alt.politics.usa
XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/14/trump-space-policy-leadership-void-00349131
The White House has galactic-sized plans for space. But no one
seems to know who will carry them out.
Space industry officials and Capitol Hill staffers describe a
rudderless administration when it comes to space policy, with
no single person driving the big shifts. This has left them
confused about the White House’s priorities and their role
in the process, even as President Donald Trump pushes to put
humans back on the moon, land an astronaut on Mars and redefine
American space power.
“I don’t think there’s anybody in charge right now,” said
one space industry official. “It’s just a lot of individuals
trying to set individual goals and policies.”
. . .
Elon wants to forget the moon, go the long hard route
straight to Mars. Oh yea, he has kinda the only rocket
that can make that kinda practical.
As posted earlier, Russia/China have formed a moon-base
coalition - very NEAR timeframe - and it includes a
Russian NUKE REACTOR to power it all. Dunno what they
need with THAT much electricity, but it's probably
not good. Killer lasers ??? China has the big rockets
and Russia can offer at least in-orbit re-fueling.
It can work.
We DON'T know if the USA has been hiding ET tech
or artifacts on the moon. However China is now
kinda established there and SURELY knows. In any
case, the moon, closer, has some decided military
uses.
Mars ... distant and a kind of POISONOUS world.
NOT easy and NO clear goal/use at this time.
Forget 'Artemis' ... a few people, a few MONTHS
minimum, to Mars. It WILL take something very
large like "StarShip" to make any of it practical.
SO far they keep exploding ... NOT easy .....
NASA, alas, is stuck in the middle of the undefined
current politics. Who is in charge, money for WHAT,
nobody has a clue.
IMHO, the USA needs SOME kind of moon base kinda
at the same time as China. It's political, not
so much 'practical', but politics COUNT sometimes.
The south pole, where there IS a little water, is
the best position. The "base" only needs to house
several people, pref from two or three nations,
to be politically relevant. Get someone from
the ESA, maybe even a Canadian, and a couple of
USA-ians.
Note, the DUST makes the moon EXTRA nasty - is
abrasive, toxic, and gets into EVERYTHING. You
wouldn't think dirt to be important, but it IS.
Moon dust is kinda electrically charged - ATTRACTED
to anything we put there. Made Apollo crews SICK
and threatened air seals and equipment.
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