“We solved Thrust Oscillation from the 1st stage (the LOX damper is genus) , developed a good 5 segment SRB, made a rather good upper stage, developing a J2-X engine that can fly for the next 100 years, used common systems /manufacturing between Ares I and V to cut cost and bring in reliability.”

No tom, you are absolutely wrong on all counts.

A project is made to look easy when it comes in on schedule or faster and on budget or less. Constellation failed on ALL counts.

President Bush said in the VSE that we would land on the moon as soon as 2015 and no later than 2020. We would also launch to LEO by 2014. We would move to new systems requiring less personal like fuel depots and would build no new launchers.

Constellation made everything harder than it should be and escalated costs and it never came close to being made to look easy. It was a nightmare.

“We solved Thrust Oscillation from the 1st stage (the LOX damper is genus)”

How?

And just so everyone remembers, the thrust oscillations were still present in the SRM, but non-value added mass was added to the rocket to mitigate the effects of the vibration so that it wouldn’t damage the payload and crew.

And when I say non-value added mass, that means that the vibration isolation structures were so heavy that they subtracted from the payload capability of the rocket, making it less efficient.

One has to wonder why anyone would think that an SRM-only rocket makes sense. It certainly doesn’t from a capability standpoint, nor a cost one. What else is there besides political?

“In terms of unique cost Ares I was less than 1 billion from being operational.”

No. What you’re describing would be like a Ponzi scheme.

The entire cost of the Ares I was unique to Ares I. It was the follow-on Ares V that would have realized savings from reusing Ares I systems. That being the case, Ares I still had about $20B left to go.

NASA made the Constellation plan look easy?”

We solved Thrust Oscillation from the 1st stage (the LOX damper is genus) , developed a good 5 segment SRB, made a rather good upper stage, developing a J2-X engine that can fly for the next 100 years, used common systems /manufacturing between Ares I and V to cut cost and bring in reliability. We had the Ares I-Y flight (full up – none functioning J-2X) ready for 2013 and a follow on Ares I-Y prime (full up, Production Orion/ working J2-X) set for about 6-9 months later. We would be flying people by 2015. In terms of unique cost Ares I was less than 1 billion from being operational.

“that chart from many years ago shows ISS funding concluding in 2017. Got one that shows 2018? 2020? just not 2015.”

Go look at the “National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Authorization Act of 2010“.

Here is an article that confirms that the bill extends the life of the ISS through at least 2020.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/10/12/president-obama-signs-nasa-space-exploration-act-law/

In the bill, Congress also directs NASA to do a study into what it would take to extend it’s life even more.

The GAO has even had time to evaluate NASA’s planning for the extension out to 2020, and here is their report, which says NASA is doing a good job:

http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-519R

Just out of curiosity, are you incapable of doing internet searches like this yourself? Here, I’ll help you. Just Google:

“International Space Station 2020 extension”

Now stop saying ignorant things.

Only to moral midgets.

You’ve already established on this forum that hardware has more value than the crews that ride it so any perspective you have on HSF is quite devalued.

“Bolden has had multiple opportunities since to prevent any more such “mistakes” by Weiler (and Scolese), but hasn’t availed himself of them.”

This is government and politics. Not the private industry. Changes are happening but at a slower pace. I have no opinion about either but look at the new exploration directorate for example. Who is in charge? Why? For how long? Once shuttle is all but gone… I suspect that they will transition smoothly but in the end they will if necessary. AND then who can better replace them? If no one can then they will stay for a while longer. Unless our friend EP wants the job…