More NASA Letters

If NASA ever doubted they had the power to inspire, I'd suggest they look at the documentary sequence played during the Academy Awards. A very good portion of the footage was from one source: the space program. Yet little of the footage was from recent programs. How sad.


Joseph Romagnano
Charlton, MA




I have an 8th idea for how to get NASA back on track. This year marks the 16th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger disaster "Mission 51-L." The highest honor we can give the fallen Challenger astronauts and "teachernaut" Christa McAuliffe is for NASA to press forward with the "Teacher In Space" mission. Sending one of America's finest-a teacher-into space would restore national pride and bring purpose to our manned space program.


Rick Schreiner
Pasadena, CA




I was confused by your article "Go Somewhere." When did Americans stop loving the space program? I'm only 17, but I've been infatuated with NASA for most of my life, and everyone I know revels in each breakthrough they make. Americans may not show the enthusiasm they did in the 1960's, but we never stopped loving NASA-the passion just died down a little.


Richard Schneeman
Montgomery, AL




Your article, "Go Somewhere," contained a thoughtful set of recommendations for NASA to consider. But just as NASA has done over the last two decades, you have ignored our Nation's first space station-Skylab.


When it was built, some viewed Skylab as the tail end of the Herculean effort to go to moon. Others viewed Skylab as an opportunity to initiate mankind's expansion into space. As our Nation's first laboratory in Earth orbit, Skylab not only experimented across a wide range of scientific disciplines, it began preparation for long-duration manned missions, enabling us to reach farther and explore longer.


The Skylab data and experience contributed significantly to our understanding of problems encountered in our quest for Mars (your recommended change #1) and operating a space station at a reasonable price (your recommended change #2). In addition, Skylab produced its share of drama and celebration of human achievement (your recommendation #5). Lastly, with a price tag of only $2.5 billion, Skylab was done faster, better, and cheaper-a concept later to be discovered.


Past decisions cannot be reversed nor history rewritten, but we can still recognize and utilize the Skylab experience.


Ed Gibson
Science-Pilot
Skylab III





Some of my most lasting memories are of debates with my father over the future of NASA. But I've recently grown disillusioned with the promises of "faster, better, cheaper," and found myself turning from NASA with disappointment. In 1969 we sent a man to the moon. Why 33 years later does the prospect of revisiting the moon or landing on Mars seem ludicrous? The failing is in those who believe that playing it safe on Earth is more cost effective than taking a chance in space. I say that unless NASA once again points itself towards the stars, all children will know of Mars is what they see on the Sci-Fi Channel.


Christopher Beisler
Puyallup, WA




A mission to Mars is a waste of our precious resources and money. There is little, if any, scientific research worth conducting there. Instead, the government should put larger funds into a sea program. Like the previous article stated, the moon is mapped more than our oceans. We send costly missions to look for worthless microbes on Mars when we should be spending money on large manned submarines to research the billions of aquatic organisms not yet discovered. Why not create a deep-sea habitat rather than one an empty Mars? We should wait for physics to catch up with space exploration so that space travel will be safer and cheaper.


Timothy Lau
San Francisco, CA




In "Go Somewhere," Dawn Stover criticizes the Space Station's cost overruns, but claims the most valuable mission for the station is to get us to Mars, a highly expensive venture with no physical return except, maybe, in the long term. I disagree: People like Mark Shuttleworth have demonstrated that the station's real value is to carry out research that would be inefficient on the ground or in an atmosphere. Dawn Stover should have suggested handing the station over to private industry, and have them perform the advanced research that will improve our quality of life.


Steve Jordan



I was ll in 1969, but the moon landing, along with Popular Science, nevertheless inspired me to obtain a BS in physics at Duke University. I wholeheartedly agree with your suggestion that we return to space with a vengeance. I believe the best argument is case number 7 for national security. Isn't that what started the space race in the first place?


The Shuttle is a toy when it comes to payload. If we are serious about space, we must revive the Saturn V. It remains the most powerful rocket of all time, capable of launching a space station in a single mission. This effort would also be an excellent economic stimulus project, creating opportunities for both for military and academia. Lets bring back the Saturn V and put some useful hardware and military personnel in space!


Dennis Dumas
Chatham, NJ