What of the infrastructure that is NASA, the support system that is needed in times of crisis in space? I think that Apollo 13 proved that that support system/mission control, etc., CAN reach the moon, but what about Mars? As of today, we can command rovers on Mars, update programs, etc., but what about that human condition... the health and well being of a human being?

Just some thoughts as of late.

I also think that when the deadline for shuttle was given that there should have been a U.S. backup plan for it so that no loss of time and even KSC's workforce (and ISS's components, replacements, human cargo, etc.) would know where to go from there, so I agree with Senator Nelson on that. He compared the loss to that of Apollo's and to some degree, I agree. I do not like the time gap of the U.S. not being able to send humans to the ISS.

When John F. Kennedy made the announcement that we could send men to the moon it was because he knew we could do it. We had a proved rocket that could do it not plans on paper.