If Nixon defeats Kennedy in 1960, what does he do with the space program? Apollo was Kennedys baby.
Nixon in 1960, what happens to NASA?
- Thread starter midnight77
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My guess is probably slow, gradual expansion of it every time the USSR expanded their own space efforts.
Kennedy did the crash course because he viewed it as absolutely necessary as a component of the Cold War. It was part of a broader policy of renewal against what was characterized, perhaps rightly so, as stagnation at the end of the Eisenhower era. Nixon is oddly something of a submissive to Eisenhower so it's more or less Ike's third term.
In space, he'll probably stick to Eisenhower's cautious disinterest. Mercury will evolve into Mercury Mark II (the original name for Gemini) with a vague plan for maybe getting out of LEO and going to the Moon and building a space station eventually. That may be better for space in the long run. A quick leap to a Moon landing was partially to blame for burned out public interest in NASA after 1969. (The issues of the 1960s were also to blame; Apollo was early 1960s daring do which was not in the mood of the nation later in the decade). The Soviets also have more breathing room to stay in it. But also, it may lack political will to get to the Moon. One weeps if the Moon became like Mars where we will almost get there in the very near future of any day now.
Liberals may also get apathetic and critical of the space program, as many OTL were and are. Ironically, it could take someone critical of Nixon to succeed him and kick the program into gear (should it stagnate), but that person may be someone who cuts the budget instead. Maybe Scoop Jackson or Reagan get us to the Moon.
In space, he'll probably stick to Eisenhower's cautious disinterest. Mercury will evolve into Mercury Mark II (the original name for Gemini) with a vague plan for maybe getting out of LEO and going to the Moon and building a space station eventually. That may be better for space in the long run. A quick leap to a Moon landing was partially to blame for burned out public interest in NASA after 1969. (The issues of the 1960s were also to blame; Apollo was early 1960s daring do which was not in the mood of the nation later in the decade). The Soviets also have more breathing room to stay in it. But also, it may lack political will to get to the Moon. One weeps if the Moon became like Mars where we will almost get there in the very near future of any day now.
Liberals may also get apathetic and critical of the space program, as many OTL were and are. Ironically, it could take someone critical of Nixon to succeed him and kick the program into gear (should it stagnate), but that person may be someone who cuts the budget instead. Maybe Scoop Jackson or Reagan get us to the Moon.
marathag
Banned
Would Tricky Dick freak out when shown the model for the Orion Battleship like JFK supposed did?
or since McNamara isn't around, would Blue Gemini, Satellite Inspector for Space Defense, or SAINT, the first anti-sat program and the not as secret Dyna-Soar continue? Whomever is picked for SecDef won't try to push all manned spaceflight over to NASA like Bob did
or since McNamara isn't around, would Blue Gemini, Satellite Inspector for Space Defense, or SAINT, the first anti-sat program and the not as secret Dyna-Soar continue? Whomever is picked for SecDef won't try to push all manned spaceflight over to NASA like Bob did