"If we don't have control of Space and the Russians do, they can easily shoot down our satellites and we would have no cell phones."Wow. What an incredibly ignorant thing to say to a group of educated individuals. Just how stupid does Mitchell think we are to believe the Russians, or any country for that matter, would shoot down our satellites? How incredibly ridiculous is that?
"Think about defense.” Our predator drones at Ellington Field that fly to Afghanistan and protect our coast also are operated by satellites"
Besides saying incredibly stupid things, Mitchell is part of a bigger problem. The biggest complaint from those in Washington is that NASA, especially the Clear Lake area, doesn't have a unified message except "Save our tax funded jobs" and "Death to Obamacare". We obviously don't have an articulate messenger either.
These comments made by Mitchell are irresponsible and incredibly ignorant. They undermine the credibility of the NASA community. They do more harm than good.
I don't agree with the direction NASA is being sent, but I do know there comes a time when bipartisan, rational discussion and negotiations are needed. What we don't need is fear mongering and stupidity to top the list of talking points by those leading the effort in these negotiations.
Mitchell might want to think before he opens his pie hole again.
10 comments:
KTRK reported that Congressman Michael McCaul said this at the Parker press conference yesterday:
"What I am concerned about is that we're not going to be speaking English in outer space, but rather Chinese and Russian," said Representative Michael McCaul of Austin.
More idiotic commentary that is not helpful - and not true. Have these people not read what the plan is about - to continue manned space flight, but with private contractors - in the United States?
Threatening Armageddon or War Mongering is not the way to win an argument, unless you are in the Military or POTUS. I am not sure which is worst, making a statement about shooting down our satellites or reporting it.
I was under the impression the vast majority of cell phone users use a Ground Base System, unlike INMARSAT & IRIDIUM, which few people have are Satellite Based System. I guess I have been educated to my misperceptions.
Does this mean if the Russians do shoot down our Satellites, would we consider this an act of WAR and shoot down their satellites to retaliate or even worse? Of course, we will not have to concern ourselves about cell phone service afterwards if the situation were to escalate into total Nuclear War, since the world as we know it won’t exist or be fit for human habitation. – MAD “Mutual Assured Destruction”
“Surrendering our superiority in space may eventually cripple our country.” It could happen, but it might not happen as Bob Mitchell predicts. May only means a possibility, but not a certainty.
“Think about defense.” Our predator drones at Ellington Field that fly to Afghanistan and protect our coast also are operated by satellites, he pointed out. The Predator Drones do not fly from Ellington to Afghanistan as one might get the impression but controlled from Ellington or other locations within the USA using satellites that were not all launched from the Shuttle. The satellites were placed into orbit on Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELV) or ones flown onboard the shuttle (TDRSS) with Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) Motors or Payload assist Modules (PAM) since the shuttle could not reach that high of orbit.
After the Columbia incident, who did we depend on to get to the International Space Station?
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl
/editorial/6909337.html
“The real issue is the funding for the shuttle program, more than $2 billion a year regardless of the number of individual flights.”
So it will cost $2 Billion annually plus the cost for each shuttle flight that is estimated at $1.0B – $1.5B per launch thru landing & recovery.
“Ask around and 99 percent of the aerospace employees think the proposed NASA budget is a hare-brained idea. That it doesn’t make sense.”
Try asking some impartial persons who have nothing to gain by continuing Manned Space Launch Operations.
I favor still flying US Vehicles to the ISS, such as the Ares-I even having our astronauts on them, but going to the Moon and beyond I do not favor!!
“So far the campaign to send letters to congressmen has passed the 52,000 mark and is still growing, he told the crowd.” which equals about 7% representation of persons for one (1) representative wanting to reinstate the Shuttle and Constellation Programs.
I think that Bob Mitchell should get educated to the subject he is takling about and stop the War Mongering.
I would be interested how much money Bob Mitchell makes from the BAHEP as president!
Mitchell followed up his comments with "I can see russia from my house"
Mitchell followed up his comments with "I can see russia from my house"
I guess that's supposed to be what Sarah Palin said.
Of course, she never said that. A woman who plays make-believe on television said that. And if you can prove otherwise, I'll overnight a thousand dollars to your house. I know you can use the money.
Ahh the texas GOP...elevating idiocy to normalcy everyday...
“Ask around and 99 percent of the aerospace employees think the proposed NASA budget is a hare-brained idea. That it doesn’t make sense.”
Let me guess -- they think the budget should contain more funding for them, is that right? Who could have ever guessed that?
The people leading the effort to fight for NASA has left us with two black eyes.
Who asked Mitchell to speak about something he knows nothing about?
Matt is back. Makes for interesting deleting. He has that certain style that yells DELETE THIS BEFORE READING.
He is as predictable as stupid.
ha! He might be the same Matt that does that on my blog too! I agree. He is easy to spot and delete.
Poor guy. He needs some help.
Sarah Palin stupid or W stupid?
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