The fusion vs. SPS battle

>
> I would say that ISS and most shuttle operations (the bulk of NASA
> funding)

> do not produce things of value today, but rather are intended for future
> capability, similar to SPS or fusion development.

Umm, actually I think it's pretty well agreed the main political
justification for NASA's space programs falls in the same realm as the
money (in my opinion tragically wasted) on nuclear weapons - foreign
policy and establishing the US as a leader among nations.

It would be news to most politicians and NASA that the actual purpose
was future commercial capability in space, though a little bit of that
seems to have been getting through with the Aldridge commission
testimony and x-prize events of last year.

Otherwise, how do you explain NASA and the US government's strong
objections to tourist visits to ISS?

> Likewise for the new
> exploration program. I would grant that science operations, such as
> Hubble, should not be considered in the same light.

Actually science of the Hubble sort (Cassini, Mars Rovers, Spitzer,
etc.) takes up about half NASA's budget already.

Arthur