Obama/McCain and space exploration

[cheerfulgreek]

Does anyone know what Barack Obama or John McCain's spending plan will be for the space program? I'm just wondering, because I was just thinking about the speech former President Bush gave on space exploration. It was sometime in the late 80s. I think I was about 5 or 6, but I remember his speech was in regards to committing the nation to a sustained program of human exploration of the solar system and permanent settlement of space. I remember him speaking about (as I can remember) the need for more than a 20 year plan, of a long range continuing committment to space exploration. I do know it was because of him that the Space Exploration Initiative was created. I actually thought it was an excellent start, but it was all downhill from there.

I don't know why, but for some odd reason, all the talk about going to Mars disappeared. Exploring Mars was supposed to take place in 2000, then I heard 2008, now I'm hearing 2012. I'm just wondering if Obama or McCain will follow through with it, or if anything was mentioned about it. I'm not sure of the cost, but I'll bet it would be far less than the money that's being wasted in Iraq.

I know I won't be here to see it, but I definitely think Mars is where the action will be in the next century.