it has to do with how a nation views it self and how it will then step into the future, and without without big bold visions such as what nasa provides as a force of nature like any other, unlike any other, i don t see i don t see much more the future of america. during monday s republican presidential debate, all of the contenders appeared to take swipes at nasa, and there was a suggestion they are probably taking swipes at obama. indeed, yes. but they did talk about nasa and spending, and, of course, the budget is $18.7 billion this year and it s flat-lining for the next five years and that s a large amount of money. do you believe then like the contenders that we should leave this kind of space project to the private sector? no, no, that s a misconception. the private sector is being invited to participate in the things that the government has already figured out how to do and maybe now the private sentor can do more efficiently. newt gingrich is wrong when he says t