“The revolutionary aspect of SpaceX is not its technology, it is the recognition that we need to reduce the cost of human spaceflight. Achieving this cost reduction is very difficult. One SpaceX advance is the recognition that organizational interfaces are a large part of the cost, and that only by keeping operations in-house down to the parts level, were real competition is possible, could these interfaces be minimized.”

“LEO is a ticket to no where”. The moon and Mars are nowhere if we cannot reach them repeatedly, and at an affordable cost. US taxpayers are not going to pay fo $200B joyrides. Conversely, with practical reusable launch systems LEO can indeed be the staging area for flights farther out.

“You’re one of the best. Thanks.”

Thanks you look good too

COTS, CRS, CCDev, and CCiCap are all steps in that direction. It may not excite you, but it is a necessary function so that NASA will have the resources to build things like SEV or NAUTILUS-X. We can’t keep spending so much of the space operations budget just getting to orbit.

Except it doesn’t. Launching a satellite in the wake of thousands of others lofted from the Cape over half a century is not a ‘new era in space travel” at all. Just more going in circles in LEO.

[The] ranking member of the commerce, justice, and science subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee [also said,] “Today’s launch is not just a single venture into space but a change in the trajectory of how we think of space exploration.”

Except it’s not. Space exploitation is not space exploration, Congressman. And magnifying the importance of yet another orbital satellite launch speaks volumes about how just how short-sighted your vision is and how low the bar of expectations has fallen for American space planners. This was no moon shot, Congressman. This was no Martian probe, Congressman. It is a milk run roughly replicating what Russian Progress spacecraft have been routinely doing for over 34 years- that is, servicing a LEO space platform. LEO is a ticket to no where, Congressmna. It’s going in circles, no place fast. Which is about what we can expect from Congress these days and our space program as well.

“But he is now looking for another job in Defense due to cut backs on work on the Dream Chaser. That after less than a year.”

Having never had the luxury of working for an employer that could never fire me or lay me off, this doesn’t indicate much of anything about “New Space” or private industry in general.

Maybe they cut back his department, or maybe that’s just what he wanted you to believe. Either way, I hope he was able to find another job.

Regarding CCiCap, NASA plans to announce the winners in the July/August timeframe, which is before Congress has a chance to act on the budget. All of the participants already know what direction Congress is leaning towards, so it shouldn’t take long to figure out who is sticking it out and who isn’t.

We already know that SpaceX plans to move forward regardless, so if they win one of the CCiCap positions, I would think they would take whatever is awarded and fill in the rest with their own money. Boeing will probably stick it out even if they are not fully funded, and ATK has already said they will continue unfunded if necessary. Rumor has it that Blue Origin is not pursuing CCiCap, and Excalibur-Almaz is unlikely to win.

I continue to believe that there is a contingent in NASA that would like Dream Chaser to be a finalist (it being the only horizontal lander). If I was going to wager a can of soda for three winners, my guesses would be Boeing, SpaceX and SNC. For two winners, I think it would be SpaceX and Boeing. I don’t see any way NASA would only select one, not without a more substantial threat from Congress.

Guess we’ll have to wait and see…

The last President Bush had one thing right: The VSE. Probably the only thing he came up with that was right…

Yeah, I was mesmerized, but it came to naught, thanks to the overwhelming penal envy of Dr. Griffen.

But hey, who knows what I would do if I had the power to choose, and a small unit.

You’re one of the best. Thanks.

Hi Rick,

Not trying to start a debate. My point was I am an engineer not a contracting officer, I am familiar with SAA and FAR exactly as much as I need to know to complete an assignment.

As to what is happening right now I have no idea what your sources are as to how successfully Commercial Crew is proceeding within the current year’s budget. However, I will give you an anecdotal story (vague and not sourced to protect the individuals involved – So you will have to reject it or accept it as you choose).

An acquaintance recently left a safe civil service job to go to work for Sierra Nevada in GN&C for the Dream Chaser. Moved his family from Texas to Colorado to take the job (he is a real space cadet – and I mean that as a complement). But he is now looking for another job in Defense due to cut backs on work on the Dream Chaser. That after less than a year.

So I would be careful of glowing reports unless they can be verified.