Comments on: Fighting for science at Berkeley http://www.spacepolitics.com/2006/04/07/fighting-for-science-at-berkeley/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fighting-for-science-at-berkeley Because sometimes the most important orbit is the Beltway... Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:35:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.38 By: Donald F. Robertson http://www.spacepolitics.com/2006/04/07/fighting-for-science-at-berkeley/#comment-7579 Mon, 10 Apr 2006 20:56:34 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=927#comment-7579 Undoubtedly true, but the Shuttle is also as expensive as it ever was (or, more likely, much more so). I have always been a strong supporter of the Shuttle, but now is the time to quit. As long as the Shuttle is flying, NASA cannot afford to do anything else given any politically likely human spaceflight budget.

— Donald

]]> By: David Portree http://www.spacepolitics.com/2006/04/07/fighting-for-science-at-berkeley/#comment-7578 Sun, 09 Apr 2006 05:20:02 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=927#comment-7578 If we’re scared of the Chinese, then we shouldn’t be borrowing so much money from them to underwrite the Bush spending spree.

But getting back to spaceflight – if we’re scared of the Chinese, then we should fly the Shuttle now and let the CEV happen when it happens. The Shuttle is not inherently more risk-fraught now than it ever was.

]]> By: Donald F. Robertson http://www.spacepolitics.com/2006/04/07/fighting-for-science-at-berkeley/#comment-7577 Fri, 07 Apr 2006 19:10:34 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=927#comment-7577 I am starting to think that using Titan or Delta launchers would be better.

I have always felt that — if nothing else, to provide the economies of scale that greater use of these vehicles would provide — but that is not the decision that was made. I believe revisiting that decision would cause more political harm than any technical harm caused by NASA’s current plan. That said, I hope we can replace the SRBs early in a second generation system.

If NASA goes forward with using the Delta-IV rockets, should go some way toward ameliorating my concern with the waste involved in trying to keep to many government rockets in production.

— Donald

]]> By: vze3gz45 http://www.spacepolitics.com/2006/04/07/fighting-for-science-at-berkeley/#comment-7576 Fri, 07 Apr 2006 18:13:54 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=927#comment-7576 Get rid of the shuttle now reguardless of our obligations, and start work on CEV/CLV/HLV. If the shuttle cannot fly, we cannot meet out obligations either, and it sure looks like problems keep appearing that delay and prevent launches. I think most of our problems with manned launches will go away with cev/clv/hlv systems, although I am starting to get alittle concerned about using shuttle technology over again on the new systems. I am starting to think that using Titan or Delta launchers would be better.

]]> By: Donald F. Robertson http://www.spacepolitics.com/2006/04/07/fighting-for-science-at-berkeley/#comment-7575 Fri, 07 Apr 2006 17:26:06 +0000 http://www.districtofbaseball.com/spacepolitics/?p=927#comment-7575 I just read Space News’ coverage of last week’s House Appropriations testimony. While generally refusing to get drawn into the “China controversy” (which I believe was very wise on his part), Dr. Griffin was reported as saying that China has successfully launched two missions in the time the United States launched one! That is an excellent point, no matter what China’s plans may be.

— Donald

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