[AlexBrith]

Now that the last shuttle mission has lifted off, what should NASA's mission be?

Some points to help guide the discussion:
Commercial Spaceflight
Manned vs Robotic missions
The International Space Station

[Kubasarika]

Explore colonization? WTH, we've f'd up this planet, let's f up the moon too!

[parurorges]

Now that the last shuttle mission has lifted off, what should NASA's mission be?

To explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life; new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before!

[casefexas]

To explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life; new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before!

That's sexist!

[QiuCIOdO]

Just like Neil Armstrong was. Haha.

[pMJWFoAWD]

That's sexist!

You're right! Let me shave my head and lower my voice.

"To explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life; new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before!"

Funny that, even though I prefer TNG and Picard to the originals, when I hear the opening monologue in my head, it's always Shatner.

It's interesting to note that as we discuss this, Voyager is flying past the sign that says "Now Leaving the Solar System" That's huge. When Voyager launched I was in high school, young, thin and full of hope. Well, at least I'm still full of hope (among other things). But, that underscores the problem with the original post's laundry list of what what NASA's mission should be. The correct answer is "yes." It should be all of those things. If all the Shuttle program did was allowed us to fix the Hubble, it was worth it. That information alone has enabled great leap forward in our understanding of the universe and our origins. Likewise, the cheap and cheerful Mars Rover project has allowed us to gain far greater and deeper insight into Mars than a manned mission would, and at a far more affordable price tag. So there's room, and a need for all of it. Well, maybe not the commercial space flight. Like they say, "In space, no one can hear you monetize." The problem with the private, commercial space market is that there's very little money to be made in it. That's not to say there is no role for the private sector in space, there clearly is. But much of what the best of what we get from our presence out there will always be a loss leader, and won't happen if we abandon it as a legitimate role of the public sector.

[mv37afnr]

Now that the last shuttle mission has lifted off, what should NASA's mission be?

Some points to help guide the discussion:
Commercial Spaceflight
Manned vs Robotic missions
The International Space Station

I think Obama had the right idea earlier this year. Work on deep space exploration and let private enterprise concentrate on everything between here and the moon? Give them a helping hand when you can.

[TughEmotteTug]

That's sexist!

and it splits the infinitive!

[JetePlentuara]

and it splits the infinitive!

It's OK. He's not speaking Latin.

[Daruhuw]

I think Obama had the right idea earlier this year. Work on deep space exploration and let private enterprise concentrate on everything between here and the moon? Give them a helping hand when you can.

I also tend to like the deep space exploration idea (similar to Voyager) as well as the pure science aspect that needs to be done.