Trump orders NASA to send American astronauts to the Moon, Mars https://t.co/RN5ilGlhgM
— CNBC (@CNBC) December 11, 2017
I was too young for the Honeymooners, but I’ve read that in 1956, young Donald Trump was trying to buy friends with the lure of his parents’ still-novel rec-room television. So, yeah, hurrah for a new Space Age, but given Trump’s hostility to science in general, my first thought was of Trump shouting out Ralph Kramden’s (futile, bootless) threat… which is still enough of a popular catchphrase to have its own entry in the Urban Dictionary…
President Donald Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1 on Monday, directing NASA to return Americans to the surface of the moon and onward to Mars.
The order declares NASA must lead U.S. astronauts in “an innovative space exploration program.” The announcement continues the White House push to end dependence on Russia for manned launches, which began when the space shuttle program retired six years ago.
“It marks an important step in returning American astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972 for long-term exploration and use,” Trump said during the signing. “This time we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprint. We will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars and, perhaps, someday, to many worlds beyond.”
It has been 45 years to the day since Apollo 17 landed, the most recent mission to the moon…
Video of Trump’s full speech here:
Trump to start process of sending Americans back to moon: White House https://t.co/egSQJBD7e0
— Steve Holland (@steveholland1) December 11, 2017
ICE is out of control. https://t.co/btrUw4VyDr
— Jesse Walker (@notjessewalker) December 11, 2017
… “We are the leader and we’re going to stay the leader, and we’re going to increase it many fold,” Trump said in signing “Space Policy Directive 1” that establishes a foundation for a mission to the moon with an eye on going to Mars.
“This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprint, we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars,” Trump said. “And perhaps, someday, to many worlds beyond.”
Back in June, China’s space official said the country was making “preliminary” preparations to send a man to the moon, the latest goal in China’s ambitious lunar exploration program.
Trump’s signing ceremony for the directive included former lunar astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Harrison Schmitt and current astronaut Peggy Whitson, whose 665 days in orbit is more time in space than any other American and any other woman worldwide…
“And space has so much to do with so many other applications, including a military application,” he said without elaboration.
In approving the new policy, Trump abandoned what had been a goal of his predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama, who in 2010 backed a plan to send humans to a near-earth asteroid.
NASA said initial funding for the new policy would be included in its budget request for fiscal year 2019…
Funding yesterday and funding tomorrow, but never funding today.
The reboot of “Capricorn One” is gonna be lit. https://t.co/r1WKSt1noP
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) December 11, 2017
On the ‘job creation’ side, maybe O.J. Simpson can reprise his role…
Late Night Side-Eye Open Thread — Trump to NASA: “To the MOON, Alice!”Post + Comments (67)