[pseusawbappem]

But the private space industry is growing, rapidly. Commercial uses of space flight will be more sustainable than the goodwill of the American Congress.

And robotic missions are much cheaper than manned missions. Putting Curiosity on Mars cost little more than Victoria's myki ticketing system. The global research and philanthropic community should easily be able to raise that sort of money. (Sounds far-fetched? Then perhaps our imagination needs to start on the ground before it can dance among the stars.)

They'd probably be able to do it cheaper than the bloated, politicised, and hopelessly confused NASA anyway.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>


:-)
Ahhh, I needed a good laugh.
The private industry will get bigger and bigger...Check out the "Rocket technology and VTVL thread. I applaud such endeavours.

And of course robotic missions will continue just as they should. They have been responsible for some fantastic successes and that will also continue.
But as most of us know, robotic missions are generally really a precursor to manned efforts.
Our Martian robotic friends are doing a great job preparing the way for such an effort...great stuff!

And finally as I have said many times, despite economic situations and some short comings of NASA, they will change over time....Good times will come again, and NASA will continue probably with changes much needed including increased funding.

All in all, it can be safely said that progress and technological achievements will continue overall, and some pessimistic opinion by some one from "the age" will not change that.


And finally ignoring any possible catastrophic occurrence to our planet
We will go to Mars...
We will continue space endeavours and achievements...
And one day we will get to the stars.
Nothing surer...