Reply #131: right

[William Z. Foster]

Yes, the project operated under a different name and authority initially. I am sure that the government "has" some of the equipment and expertise that it needs to deal with this catastrophe, as well, just as the government had some of the equipment and personnel it needed to start NASA. But it would not have mattered if it did or not. You said that the government could not take over management of this emergency response because it did not "have the gear" and did not have the personnel. I said that was irrelevant, since the government can go out and get what it needs - just as the government went out and got Von Braun, and went out and got the equipment needed for space flight.