Two not unrelated pieces on NASAwatch
1) Implication of Congressional elections for NASA
Short version: more oversight of Vision for Space Exploration; may tighten wall again around science;
I'd expect Glenn Research Center to be saved; Marshall and JSC not so favoured any more; GSFC could be big winner.
2) The Ares launcher being developed to launch the new Crewed Capsule is reputedly in trouble.
Underpowered... Easy fix is to stick a couple of solid rocket boosters on the side.
Ooops. Where have we heard that one before...
PS: Mars Global Surveyor is apparently in trouble. It is old, done well, still be a shame to lose it.
More like this
In keeping with the Broken Pipeline theme (see ScienceBloglings Greg, Coturnix, and
As the Hubble servicing mission is going up, hopefully, we contemplate what on Earth is going on with NASA.
Like, why the cuts?
Having blogged from the AIAA conference (it was in the Bay Area 2 weeks before the HEAD meeting) I am very interested in all this. Lockmart is obviously trying to sell a man-rated Atlas V as an alternative to "The Stick" Ares I. The Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) is starting to sound like a horse designed by committee.