Bush Space Plan Unwise?

> From: Ryan Z [mailto:ryjaz@...]

> I'd be very interested to see if we could find a nice
> dormant comet with H2O that we could take advantage
> of, or some kind of carbanoceous chondrite with some
> hydrogen on it. This is my biggest criticism of
> Bush's plan, no mention of NEO exploitation.

Unfortunately many people see a mars landing as science fiction. Say 'asteroid mining' to them and really wouldn't understand what you're talking about. If the same basic hardware can go to the moon and mars there's no reason it couldn't be sent to a small NEO rock. since at that point the hardware is designed and thoroughly flight tested, it would be cheap.

IF - and it's a big capital if - there is political will for it. Last time we didn't. In twenty years time, who can tell? Hopefully by then commercial space flight will mean more than TV & comm satellites.

ANTIcarrot.