NASA is canceling a water-seeking moon rover because of cost overruns and launch delays. The space agency announced the news Wednesday, days before the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
    • Addfwyn@lemmygrad.ml
      14·
      4 months ago

      Either some people in government are still aware that they’d stand no chance competing against China, or they realise it is harder for them to constantly shift the goal posts and frame it as a win these days, so they prefer to just not risk it.

      It doesn’t have to be a space race anyway, China would most likely cooperate if the US were willing to suck up their pride.

      • cfgaussian@lemmygrad.ml
        11·
        4 months ago

        Yeah, though i’m expecting major sabotage efforts by the usual three letter agencies of the US and UK in regards to that project. Wouldn’t even put it past NASA to get involved in trying to make sure that the mission fails.

  • d-RLY?@lemmygrad.ml
    8·
    4 months ago

    Very sad state of things. But being fair, I think NASA might be able to get at least a small injection of money if they stick to getting people on the moon again. Actually seeing humans land on the moon again would get more people excited about space (no matter which nation(s) end up doing it).

    The robots, non-earth orbiting satellites, telescopes, and probes are very great for science but aren’t “exciting” to a lot of people. We always hear about cool ideas about future possible manned missions to moons and planets. But it is always super far off and no real plans that would be anytime soon. We really really need missions that show humans making steps on something.

    A rover for future follow-up missions will be needed. But after so many years, just doing dumb human shit like jumping around in low gravity and picking up a few rocks would be effectively the same as if the old landings as far as excitement. Shit like that can be something that humans from all nations can feel some amount of pride.

      • d-RLY?@lemmygrad.ml
        2·
        4 months ago

        For sure. Would be a big motivator for getting actual shit together and would then mean the next push would be Mars. Though I am hoping that China (with maybe some follow-up missions that include some joint stuff with other socialist nation members) will make it Mars first. Would be a missed chance to have the history books record that “the reds take the red planet” otherwise.