La victoria hace unas horas de Obama en las elecciones presidenciales de EEUU permite a la NASA seguir, al menos 4 años más, con los programas ya aprobados en la anterior legislatura.
Nos quedaremos con las ganas de saber que hubiera hecho Romney con los presupuestos de la agencia espacial, si hubiera sido a peor (algo difícil pero posible) o a mejor (también poco probable).
Esto quiere decir que sigue en pie el compromiso en 2010 de Obama de poner un astronauta en un asteroide cercano para, aproximadamente, el año 2025. Paso previo a mandar un humano a marte a partir del 2030.
Para estos fines se supone que sigue hacia adelante la construcción del lanzador SLS y la cápsula Orion, cuyo primer vuelo se espera para el 2021.
Y es que recordemos que actualmente la mayor potencia mundial tecnológica y científica es incapaz de poner ni un triste mono en la órbita baja de la Tierra, hasta para eso necesita la ayuda de la Soyuz soviética. Los transbordadores lucen en maravillosos museos a lo largo y ancho de todo el país, y no pasa mes que no se cancele un proyecto o se acorte la duración de una misión dentro del seno de la NASA.
Recordemos pues al presidente Obama sus compromisos de mínimos con la agencia espacial, por si acaso se les ocurre de un día para otro eliminarlos de un plumazo, como ya pasó con el programa «Constellation» destinado a volver a la luna en el año 2020.
Por si os animais aquí teneis un link de la Planetary Society para mandar una carta a Obama pidiendo que no deje a un lado la exploración espacial. Carta a Obama
A continuación dejo los lanzamientos programados para el año 2013, la palabra que más se repite en donde pone sitio de lanzamiento es Baikonur…. Esto tiene que cambiar.
Mission: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K)
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 41
Launch Window: 11:57 p.m. – 12:37 a.m. EST
Description: The TDRS-K spacecraft is part of the next-generation series in the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, a constellation of space-based communication satellites providing tracking, telemetry, command and high-bandwidth data return services.
Date: February 11
Mission: The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM)
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V-401
Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Description: The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) is the future of Landsat satellites. It will continue to obtain valuable data and imagery to be used in agriculture, education, business, science, and government.
Date: February 12
Launch Vehicle: ISS Progress 50
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description: Progress 50 will carry supplies, hardware, fuel and water to the International Space Station.
Date: No Earlier Than February 27
Mission: Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS)
Launch Window: 6:25:26 p.m. to 6:30:26 p.m. PST.
Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL
Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Description: IRIS is designed to provide significant new information to increase our understanding of energy transport into the corona and solar wind and provide an archetype for all stellar atmospheres.
Date: March 28
Assembly Flight: 34S
Mission: Expedition 35/36
Launch Vehicle: Soyuz TMA-08M
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description: Soyuz TMA-08M will carry three Expedition 35/36 crew members to the International Space Station.
Date: Spring 2013
Mission: Orbital Sciences Corporation Test Flight
Launch Vehicle: Antares/Cygnus
Launch Site: Wallops Flight Facility, Va.
Launch Pad: 0A
Description: The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled for a demonstration flight on an Orbital Antares launch vehicle under NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services agreement with the company. Cygnus will make an attempt to rendezvous and berth with the International Space Station.
Date: April 24
Launch Vehicle: ISS Progress 51
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description: Progress 51 will carry supplies, hardware, fuel and water to the International Space Station.
Date: May 28
Assembly Flight: 35S
Mission: Expedition 36/37
Launch Vehicle: Soyuz TMA-09M
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description:Soyuz TMA-09M will carry three Expedition 36/37 crew members to the International Space Station.
Date: July 24
Launch Vehicle: ISS Progress 52
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description: Progress 52 will carry supplies, hardware, fuel and water to the International Space Station.
Date: August 12
Mission: Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE)
Launch Vehicle: Minotaur V
Launch Site: Wallops Flight Facility, Va.
Launch Pad: Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0B
Description: LADEE will gather detailed information about conditions near the surface and environmental influences on lunar dust. A thorough understanding of these influences will help researchers understand how future exploration may shape the lunar environment and how the environment may affect future explorers.
Date: September 25
Assembly Flight: 36S
Mission: Expedition 37/38
Launch Vehicle: Soyuz TMA-10M
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description: Soyuz TMA-10M will carry three Expedition 37/38 crew members to the International Space Station.
Date: October 16
Launch Vehicle: ISS Progress 53
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description: Progress 53 will carry supplies, hardware, fuel and water to the International Space Station.
Date: November 25
Assembly Flight: 37S
Mission: Expedition 38/39
Launch Vehicle: Soyuz TMA-11M
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description: Soyuz TMA-11M will carry three Expedition 38/39 crew members to the International Space Station.
Date: December 11
Assembly Flight: 3R
Mission: Multipurpose Laboratory Module with European Robotic Arm (ERA)
Launch Vehicle: Russian Proton
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description: A Russian Proton rocket will deliver the Multipurpose Laboratory Module with European Robotic Arm (ERA) to the International Space Station.
Date: December 24
Launch Vehicle: ISS Progress 54
Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Description: Progress 54 will carry supplies, hardware, fuel and water to the International Space Station.
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milesdemillones 
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