The Space Shuttle launches, again.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519609,00.html#
Well, the shuttle launches, one more time. To the crew members, we wish you a safe and successful journey. This posting however is not about that. It's about the government finally trying to end the virtual monopoly that NASA has had on manned spaceflight. This idea was proposed back in 2003,and approved by Pres. Bush. Congress finally got around to it this week, and it's about bloody time. The savings in gov't spending alone make this a good idea. Putting orbital flight into the hands of the private sector, a competitive marketplace, should reduce costs and improve safety. As long as NASA maintains final inspection oversight, this should do well. The fact is that, gov't contractors have learned over the decades that they can milk a contract for years, and millions of dollars in cost over runs, and the gov't happily whips out the Ol' public money checkbook. Then we, that's you and I folks get stuck with the bill, AGAIN. The exploration of space, and eventual basing on the moon, are probably a very good idea. ord knows, we need the room. Let's allow for the free and open discussion of ideas, for real. Take it out of NASA's control and give to private companies that can do the job.
The congress has used the term "Outsourcing" for this, and that is truly the only part of this that makes me nervous. I mean, it's bad enough when the radio call begins with "Houston, we have a problem", but how bad is it going to get is that call has to begin with "New Delhi, we have a problem,, I need to speak to a technician, please"? That scenario would not be good.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519609,00.html