The mothings change...

I never said anything about "profit".. I said they make "tons of
money" There is no way for NASA (I'm not as familiar with ESA) to make
a profit.. Not just because they can't by law, but also because of all
the resource waste, no-bid contracts, government bureaucracies, ect.
NASA is just not designed to make a "profit"..

Who makes the profits are the companies like Lockheed, Boeing, Hughes,
Northrop.. And it just so happens that these same companies have
retired Air Force brass among other military & government branches,
sitting on their boards of directors..

Let's face it, NASA's main job is R&D for the US military with private
and corporate contractors reaping the rewards.. It's part of what
keeps this "war machine" grinding.. And it's not just the US...
Governments all over the word are buying these technologies, UK being
one of the best customers and the new EU is going to be an even better
one..

The faster we can get the military out of the way for non-military
companies in space the better.. Unfortunately as we all know, the
cost, the cost, the cost.. People(taxpayers) would rather pay for
weapon systems, fighter planes, and missile defense systems.. Than
space exploration or exploitation to accomplish the same goals..

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "ANTIcarrot"
wrote:
>
> > From: Jake
> > Both ESA and NASA have links to all kinds of business
> > opportunities on their websites...
> > I believe they make tons of money from these ventures.. How
> > could they not??
>
> Because they are not allowed to. If NASA was allowed to make a
profit then:
> A) That would be a government run company - the height of evil to most
> american voters.
> B) That might mean that Capitol Hill lost control once their profits
exceed
> funding - which is the height of evil to most politicians.
> C) They might actually succeed in making space affordable for all
(including
> non Americans) - which if the height of evil to the CIA.
>
> John
>
use" The Wall Street Journal