So the 1950’s Men into Space Moon Base series might become a reality yet. 04:30 Eastern (CBS). Don’t remember anymore if it was weekly (probably) or a daily. For me at the time it was must watch, even if the periodic romance stuff was a bit boring and off-putting for a little kid.
Sorry for this but I didn’t start the socio-political rants today.
What stopped the space program was the “Great Society.” I still recall the whining neer-do-wells of the day. Every time a lunar ascent module took off they would wail about the cost of the lunar lander and lunar rover left on the moon. What they didn’t remember was that the money to build and develop those items was spent here on earth; on jobs and technology development. The development of weather satellites and microprocessors alone paid for the lunar program.
But instead of the visionary outlook of the John F Kennedys was subsumed by the mob pandering of the Ted Kennedys. The huge expansion of the “Great Society’s” so-called Social Security and “welfare” programs under Johnson destroyed any cost-to-benefit investment of tax funds. And here we are 50 years later. Paying for rides on Russian rockets to our own space station. Rockets first developed for the USSR’s (failed) lunar landing endeavor in the 60s.
BAH! We sowed the socialist wind and we’re reaping the socialist storm.
Arlo is right – the space programs in the various countries were so extraordinarily complex that even reproducing it for manned moon flight would be financially ruinous. Why is the Soviet Union only in history books? They engaged in economic contests – the space race and the nuclear weapons race – with the US. Russia is active in orbital flight but they have seen no compelling reason to go to the moon in decades. Economically that is a rat hole for money. Nearly all we ever gained from our space program is seen in the US Air Force and commercial aviation. All the rest of our whiz bang technology would have come without it.
The original plan was a LEO space station, then the moon, then Mars. But, JFK had NASA make the big spurt to the moon and then NASA rolled over and went to sleep.
This is the second time today I read about the souffle reference! The other was Patrick Buchanan’s opinion in today’s paper, about Thomas Dewey’s re-nomination in 1948 after losing in 1944.
This area was a major part of the space program and airplanes back then. One of the fellows (now deceased) in our reenactment unit worked on the lunar lander, getting Apollo 13 down and submitted a design (not used) for the space shuttle. As a child I get used to the sonic boom from a flying plane breaking the sound barrier as they were tested.
What has happened to all those buildings where all this was done? They are three movie studios, FedEx facilities, banks, a McDonalds, a car dealership and so many other things – but think if they were still filled with people working on space and air travel how much more they could have accomplished. A small part of the complex is still used by Grumman-Northrup – too bad more of it isn’t still involved in what it had been.
KenTheCoffinDweller over 5 years ago
So the 1950’s Men into Space Moon Base series might become a reality yet. 04:30 Eastern (CBS). Don’t remember anymore if it was weekly (probably) or a daily. For me at the time it was must watch, even if the periodic romance stuff was a bit boring and off-putting for a little kid.
Dirty Dragon over 5 years ago
Space: 2024
Boise Ed Premium Member over 5 years ago
But now, Glorious Leader tells us that the moon is actually part of Mars!
3cranes Premium Member over 5 years ago
I think of space exploration as a nice fatty pot roast that can easily be reheated and may be even more tasty on the second go round!
well-i-never over 5 years ago
Look at the little dog!
ScullyUFO over 5 years ago
Right. Let’s take our dysfunctional family to other parts of the solar system.
richkinn over 5 years ago
Maybe your president wants to build one of his hotel things on the moon and have you pay for it!!
Tyge over 5 years ago
Sorry for this but I didn’t start the socio-political rants today.
What stopped the space program was the “Great Society.” I still recall the whining neer-do-wells of the day. Every time a lunar ascent module took off they would wail about the cost of the lunar lander and lunar rover left on the moon. What they didn’t remember was that the money to build and develop those items was spent here on earth; on jobs and technology development. The development of weather satellites and microprocessors alone paid for the lunar program.
But instead of the visionary outlook of the John F Kennedys was subsumed by the mob pandering of the Ted Kennedys. The huge expansion of the “Great Society’s” so-called Social Security and “welfare” programs under Johnson destroyed any cost-to-benefit investment of tax funds. And here we are 50 years later. Paying for rides on Russian rockets to our own space station. Rockets first developed for the USSR’s (failed) lunar landing endeavor in the 60s.
BAH! We sowed the socialist wind and we’re reaping the socialist storm.
Tyge over 5 years ago
To make a souffle’ you have to break some eggs. There’s no “stomach” for that today, apparently.
dv1093 over 5 years ago
Uh, souffle’?
flagmichael over 5 years ago
Arlo is right – the space programs in the various countries were so extraordinarily complex that even reproducing it for manned moon flight would be financially ruinous. Why is the Soviet Union only in history books? They engaged in economic contests – the space race and the nuclear weapons race – with the US. Russia is active in orbital flight but they have seen no compelling reason to go to the moon in decades. Economically that is a rat hole for money. Nearly all we ever gained from our space program is seen in the US Air Force and commercial aviation. All the rest of our whiz bang technology would have come without it.
david_42 over 5 years ago
The original plan was a LEO space station, then the moon, then Mars. But, JFK had NASA make the big spurt to the moon and then NASA rolled over and went to sleep.
gaebie over 5 years ago
This is the second time today I read about the souffle reference! The other was Patrick Buchanan’s opinion in today’s paper, about Thomas Dewey’s re-nomination in 1948 after losing in 1944.
rlaker22j over 5 years ago
Ike warned everybody in 1959
ConnieEmbury1 over 5 years ago
Actually you can reheat a souffle.
well-i-never over 5 years ago
And yet, look at the little dog!
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 5 years ago
Its another week and after loving it 100% Pres. Trump is now against the idea 100%.
shamino over 5 years ago
So what is Arlo’s point? That we should scrap NASA altogether and abandon space to the rest of the world?
atomicdog over 5 years ago
Meanwhile, in Boca Chica, Texas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_South_Texas_Launch_Site
Rokittman over 5 years ago
Hey, where’s the flying car I was promised when I was a kid?
mafastore over 5 years ago
This area was a major part of the space program and airplanes back then. One of the fellows (now deceased) in our reenactment unit worked on the lunar lander, getting Apollo 13 down and submitted a design (not used) for the space shuttle. As a child I get used to the sonic boom from a flying plane breaking the sound barrier as they were tested.
What has happened to all those buildings where all this was done? They are three movie studios, FedEx facilities, banks, a McDonalds, a car dealership and so many other things – but think if they were still filled with people working on space and air travel how much more they could have accomplished. A small part of the complex is still used by Grumman-Northrup – too bad more of it isn’t still involved in what it had been.