Comments on: The Space Program: Differing Perspectives http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/space-program-differing-perspectives.html Chronicling and Commenting on Human Progress Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:16:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: PhysBrain http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/space-program-differing-perspectives.html#comment-144 PhysBrain Sat, 28 Jan 2006 10:14:00 +0000 http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/space-program-differing-perspectives.html#comment-144 So, from what I've heard, Dr. Griffin is trying to make due with the existing budget to fly out the shuttle, complete the ISS, and build the CEV. That's an admirable goal, but the existing budget is barely enough to cover flying the shuttle and operating the ISS. It seems rediculous to also expect that NASA can build a brand new vehicle on top of that. I was personally a little mistified when they said they could fund the CEV development by reducing expenses in the shuttle budget as it approached retirement. It's exactly this kind of pie-in-the-sky hand waving that has been getting NASA into trouble (in a budgetary sense) ever since they started flying the shuttle ("Oh sure, we'll have high flight rates and low operations costs...") My question is why hasn't Griffin gone before Congress to explain that this is the situation? He has been fairly blunt and honest with them before, and I think they actually respect that. With the existing budget, they can either have the ISS completed by 2010, or they can have a new vehicle flying by then, but not both. If they want both, they require more money. Then, maybe at a later date, they can address the bloated beauracracy and why it's costing them so much to accomplish these things. So, from what I’ve heard, Dr. Griffin is trying to make due with the existing budget to fly out the shuttle, complete the ISS, and build the CEV. That’s an admirable goal, but the existing budget is barely enough to cover flying the shuttle and operating the ISS. It seems rediculous to also expect that NASA can build a brand new vehicle on top of that. I was personally a little mistified when they said they could fund the CEV development by reducing expenses in the shuttle budget as it approached retirement. It’s exactly this kind of pie-in-the-sky hand waving that has been getting NASA into trouble (in a budgetary sense) ever since they started flying the shuttle (”Oh sure, we’ll have high flight rates and low operations costs…”)

My question is why hasn’t Griffin gone before Congress to explain that this is the situation? He has been fairly blunt and honest with them before, and I think they actually respect that. With the existing budget, they can either have the ISS completed by 2010, or they can have a new vehicle flying by then, but not both. If they want both, they require more money.

Then, maybe at a later date, they can address the bloated beauracracy and why it’s costing them so much to accomplish these things.

]]> By: Anthony Kendall http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/space-program-differing-perspectives.html#comment-143 Anthony Kendall Fri, 27 Jan 2006 15:35:00 +0000 http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/space-program-differing-perspectives.html#comment-143 Yeah, it is not pro-NASA adminstration, more pro-NASA employees. And also pro-NASA in terms of the agency's mission and current form. Yeah, it is not pro-NASA adminstration, more pro-NASA employees. And also pro-NASA in terms of the agency’s mission and current form.

]]> By: Danielle http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/space-program-differing-perspectives.html#comment-142 Danielle Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:58:00 +0000 http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/space-program-differing-perspectives.html#comment-142 Enjoyed the article, although I admit, having read NASA Watch for about a year now, I've never gotten the impression it was "pro-" anything. Certainly not NASA! Enjoyed the article, although I admit, having read NASA Watch for about a year now, I’ve never gotten the impression it was “pro-” anything. Certainly not NASA!

]]> By: Hyper_Snyper http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/space-program-differing-perspectives.html#comment-141 Hyper_Snyper Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:31:00 +0000 http://www.anthonares.net/2006/01/space-program-differing-perspectives.html#comment-141 Finally a voice of reason. I enjoyed reading that. You're now on my favorites list. Keep up the good work! Finally a voice of reason. I enjoyed reading that. You’re now on my favorites list. Keep up the good work!

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