Comments on: Budget flexibility

By: Dogsbd

Dogsbd — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 19:21:11 +0000

Bob, you are very adept at stating what is wrong with, well with everything. But you’ve never stated in a clear, concise to the point and coherent manner what NASA should do, if anything.

What should NASA’s mission be? Should NASA be shut down? Should the US leave space exploration to the Russians, ESA, India and China etc? How do we get to privatization of space “usage” if privatization is the goal? What is the private sectors’ incentive to go beyond LEO?

Stop throwing bricks long enough to build something instead.

By: Robert G. Oler

Robert G. Oler — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 03:42:16 +0000

Posted by mrearl at November 24, 2004 03:05 PM

By: mrearl

mrearl — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 20:05:14 +0000

Sorry Bob;
I guess we don’t share much in common.
First off I think you’re writing off participation by non-traditionals too early. The RFP for the CEV will be released in Jan. 05. The language used should give us a better indication of NASA’s seriousness on including the non-traditioanls. Another indication would be the choices for prime and sub-contractors from the RFP responses.
As for launch systems, anything selected will have to be “man rated” which EELV’s are not. Now, will NASA give companies designs or performance and reliability standards? That will be the test.

The ISS, which is one of your favorite targets, could be very helpful in promoting commercial uses in space. NASA could lease (vary cheaply) the Destiny module to a private company to make it available to others wishing to carry out experiments in zero g.
That company would be responsible for getting payloads up and back. This would help promote a more viable commercial launch industry and could lead to a more economical human launch systems. This could also work with a moon base. NASA would establish the base and contract out the re-supply missions. Later the base could be turned over for commercialization. Scientific, industrial and tourist uses would all come about in time but some one has to take that initial, expensive, risky, first step and that’s what NASA is doing with the VSE.

I think you’re putting the cart before the horse by waiting for cheaper transport before sending humans into space. You have to create a reason to develop that cheaper transport. Sometimes you have to toss your hat over the fence to make you do something and the VSE dose just that.

Our major difference is that we see this from two opposite perspectives. You see the glass as half empty; NASA is a big, stagnant, wasteful bureaucracy that will never change. I see the glass as half full; NASA has learned from the negative lessons of the past 30 years and is on its way to great change and new glory. The truth is some ware in the middle

By: Robert G. Oler

Robert G. Oler — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 17:48:56 +0000

Posted by mrearl at November 24, 2004 10:14 AM

By: mrearl

mrearl — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 15:14:16 +0000

Ok Bob;
I for one would be interested in in your opinion on why the VSE is not going to work. Seriously.
Along with that I would like to know what you think our goals would be in space and why.
Discorse on such an important subject is good but it has become just so much noise through these posts. Mabey with a statement of positions you might find that we are all closer to agreement than you may think.

By: Robert G. Oler

Robert G. Oler — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 04:56:07 +0000

Bob just hates Delay and anyone who enables Delay like the President or anything Delya likes, Bob hates.

By: Robert G. Oler

Robert G. Oler — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 04:54:11 +0000

Posted by Mark R. Whittington at November 23, 2004 01:52 PM

By: Robert G. Oler

Robert G. Oler — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 04:51:57 +0000

Chill out. Pop a cold beverage. Give the GOP its due props and let’s see what happens. . .

Posted by Bill White at November 23, 2004 09:46 PM

By: Robert G. Oler

Robert G. Oler — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 04:50:47 +0000

The things you mention like satellites and fly-by-wire were all developed under contract for the US government then exploited by private industry .

Posted by mrearl at November 23, 2004 12:49 PM

By: Bill White

Bill White — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 02:46:28 +0000

Bob Oler: Calm down, dude.

We got us a “win-win” here – – IF Bush / Delay / Whittington deliver on this promise,

Actually, Moon, Mars, and Beyond will open the High Frontier to quite a few people. It will be seen as big an engine for private development as the air mail was for aviation.

well good. And I will gladly offer credit where credit is due. But after the fact, not before.

If the VSE flops? We can’t blame Democrats for that if the GOP controls the House, Senate, POTUS and SCOTUS.

See? “win=win”

MANDATE = RESPONSIBILITY

Chill out. Pop a cold beverage. Give the GOP its due props and let’s see what happens. . .