US president Barack Obama has announced a "bold and historic" American-led mission that will see humans traveling halfway to the planet Mars a decade from now. The NASA mission, set to begin in 2022, will involve astronauts traveling approximately 100 million miles towards the Red Planet before turning around and heading back home.
President Obama hailed the trip as a significant compromise, noting "There were those who argued we should travel all the way to the Red Planet, while others argued that we should not go at all. I rejected these extremes and believe that this compromise will significantly bend the curve towards an ultimate full Mars trip some time in the future."
President Obama announced the "compromise" trip during a national address from the Oval Office. The spacecraft that is set to carry six astronauts on the one year round trip is currently being designed at NASA. It will be half fueled by a revolutionary ion propulsion system and half fueled by coal. The compromise came after several Republican Senate leaders threatened to filibuster the trip if fossil fuels were not part of the mix.
As for funding, Obama had insisted that the roughly $30 billion trip be paid for by increasing taxes on the wealthy, who currently enjoy some of the lowest rates in decades. However, after much wrangling in Congress, a "compromise" was hammered out with Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell in which half of the costs will come from cuts to welfare programs and half from tax cuts.
Critics have dismissed the "compromise" mission - the first major trip of its kind since the final manned moon mission in 1972 - arguing that President Obama should have fought for a full Mars trip. "What's the point of this?" asked Dan Slammons, a former NASA engineer. "Either you're going to Mars or you're not. To have the astronauts travel half way and then return is just humiliating and, frankly, makes America look ridiculous in the eyes of the world."
Responding to these criticisms in a recent interview on the US network ABC, President Obama stated "This is the deal we got. It is historic because it means that for the first time, humans are going to be heading for Mars. That is something we can all be proud of."
Men on Mars? Not this time.
I voted for Barack Obama and still think he is up against the most toxic politics I've seen in my lifetime--- but great satire, very funny. It only hurts when I laugh.
ReplyDeleteWhere are we going?
ReplyDeleteMARS!
When are we going?
REAL SOON!
Come to think of it Obama, does look like a black 'lectroid...
ReplyDeleteI am embarrassed to admit that for a moment I actually bought this.I know,I know:but after soooooooooo much non stop tepid "compromise" (Republicans get everything in return for not bringing government to a complete grinding halt)I can believe just about anything.
ReplyDeleteYou, Newsifact, outta see this: projectcamelot.com --- Miss Green, what you don't know about our puppet prez controlled by the billionaires, CAN and WILL hurt you, girly. Alas! O poor, poor Yorick!! Our Mother, who gave birth to our Saviour, sed only 1/4 of humanity shall be resurrected. Your choice, ma'am. Our demise. God bless you. Botha youse, dudes.
ReplyDeleteFlash forward, it is now the 13 of march 2012. The warmest winter in human memory has just passed. The threat of a new dust bowl and an unimaginary hot summer loom on the horizon. To think at one time we could jest about the half way mission to mars. ah for the good ole days.
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