Predictions of how life would be in the 21th century

["couldbecousin"]

This was supposed to be in place by 2001

I still feel that while the space shuttle was an awesome machine, it was the wrong direction to take. There was a Mars exploration programme in the wings, and a moonbase, and lots of other cool things. And the US was the only nation on the planet capable of pulling it all off.

  And we can still do it!  America, fuck yeah!   

["couldbecousin"]

NASA's budget is only one half of one percent of the national budget. It could be cut completely and no one other than NASA would probably notice. Thinking government officials wouldn't actually re-direct those funds to people who need food or shelter.

  Why, whatever else would government officials spend the money on? 

[odeon]

This was supposed to be in place by 2001

I still feel that while the space shuttle was an awesome machine, it was the wrong direction to take. There was a Mars exploration programme in the wings, and a moonbase, and lots of other cool things. And the US was the only nation on the planet capable of pulling it all off.

  And we can still do it!  America, fuck yeah!   

Not sure. In theory, sure, but NASA is heading in the wrong direction, IMHO.

In related news, Branson is also heading that way. What's so cool about not reaching orbit?