REALSPACE:ARES I Inescapable within first minute after launch

NASA has *always* attempted to limit access to space because they consider space theirs, and any other agency that tries to muscle in is perceived as the enemy (Most commonly the USAF). In 1972, the cold war thawed out for a time ("Detente"), and suddenly embarasing the Soviets wasn't good diplomacy, so Nixon and Premier Kosygin reached an agreement where neither side would actually try to do anything manned beyond earth orbit. Also, we were supposed to share a space station ("Skylab-B," now on display in the National Air & Space Museum), but Carter killed that, and pretty much killed detent, too.

With this new gentlemens agreement in place, NASA's job became one of portioning out miniscule access to space to our industries, scientists, and allies - just enough to keep them from developing their own agencies, but not enough to actually *do* anything, because to actually *do* anything - like, let's say if the US got 20% of our power from Solar Satellites - would destabilize the situation. With the end of the USSR and the Cold War, NASA has simply continued to guard the keys to the temple, yet they don't go in themselves and they prevent anyone else from going in, too. Why? Because they *like* being in charge, because they're a government agency that will defend it's own personal rice bowl to the death. Because if everyone can get in to space, then they're not really all that special, now are they?

NASA does not hate space, they hate man in space. They also hate the idea that someone else other than them self's could control American access to space. I have heard some in NASA talk like nutty greenpeacers that space should be left as pure as possible.

Why does NASA hate space?

And why do they want to limit access to space?

Back in 1968 we signed some non-militarization treaties with the USSR. The treaties are completely invalid because (A) the Soviets regularly broke 'em, and (B) the USSR no longer exists. You can't have a treaty between one nation and no other nation, so it's not legaly binding, but the US insists on pretending that it is.

Why?

Because NASA's job is *limiting* access to space, not expanding it.

they will never do it not this administration. maybe we could get an all space agency and the personal could be given military ranks like the NOAA personal that command and man their research ships.
question would you include the NRO giving it an intel mission?

If I were Grand Poobah, here's what I'd do: Firstly, let's separate NASA's Aeronautical duties from their Space Administrative duties. We'll re-form NACA, the precursor to NASA, and anything related to Aircraft goes to them. Secondly, I'd take all NASA's space stuff, and all of the USAF's space stuff, and any space crap floating around the other agencies, and I would combine *ALL* of those assets in to a new agency called "The United States Space Force," which would be military in nature. For instance, Space Command would be part of it, etc. This would give them the same kind of appropriations abilities that the other services have, and a much more functional command structure, as well as four or five bases (KSC, Vandenberg, JSC, Wallops Island, etc.)

"Research and Exploration" would be part of the USSF's mandate, and upon discovering useful assets on the moon or elsewhere, this information would - in general - be made available to interested parties, and - in specific - to anyone who is willing to pay for it. They'd also have a sub-agency who's purpose would be the economic development of private industry's access to space.

As a child of the cold war NASA has always made their maned flight decisions based on politics not science or engineering . It's first real mission was to give cover to the CIA for corona not for science. Apollo was done the way it was so we would beat the USSR to the moon not because it was the best way to do it. Skylab was slammed together because the USSR stated they would do space stations after they lost the moon race. The science guys in the planet exploration part of NASA have always hated maned flight to the point they testify to congress that robots can do it all in space.
It's pasted time for NASA to get out of the way and let the private sector do maned flight. They should contract out the ISS operations or sell it instead of deorbiting it in six years. NASA has done some great science missions over the years but they have again and again proved that they really are not the people to have anything to do with the maned flight part of space.

I could maybe maybe see a regulatory role for NASA (like the FAA), but honestly... they aren't making decisions based on engineering anymore. They are making them based on politics.... and that's more than poor engineering, it's morally bankrupt.

It time for NASA to get out of the man flight end of space and maybe contract it out to space x their dragon might be the way to go.
http://www.spacex.com/dragon.php