Posted on 07/23/2009 8:58:27 AM PDT by BenLurkin
On the 40th anniversary of the successful U.S. mission to the moon, proud celebrations took place to recognize the accomplishments by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration. There was even a well-timed space mission, with NASA's Space Shuttle blasting off to carry additional gear to the International Space Station, the research facility that orbits 220 miles above the Earth's surface.
One option under serious consideration is whether NASA should tap the private sector more actively. Since its founding, the agency has done the heavy lifting in space exploration largely by itself—conceiving of missions, designing rockets, and executing flights. Companies such as Boeing (BA), Alliant Techsystems (ATK), and Lockheed Martin simply built spacecraft to NASA's specs. Some experts argue that NASA should lean on private companies more heavily, perhaps to design rockets or execute such mundane missions as shuttling supplies up to the International Space Station. "The commercial sector could have a much bigger role," says Keith Cowling, editor of a Web site called NASA Watch, which monitors agency projects. "But NASA has to be willing to give up its monopoly on manned space flight. And that's the big question."
SpaceX is participating in a pilot program that may help determine how much the private sector gets involved with NASA. Musk's company and Orbital Sciences (ORB) have received $500 million to see if they can develop technology to deliver cargo to the space station. The two companies need to prove their capability with three demonstration flights by the end of 2010. If they're successful, NASA will pay each company $1.6 billion to run 12 cargo missions to the space station through 2015. The $133 million cost per flight would be less than one-third NASA's cost for such missions.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
If there are more than two brain cells to rub together at NASA they’ll jump at a chance for some private help. Paint the rockets like race cars if they have to.
next thing ya know, they’ll be thinking outside the box! Granted, it may be outside the box but it will still be within the walls of a slightly larger box that encompasses the original box...
This is as crazy of an idea as privatizing the USPS.
Like the private sector could run a better more efficient operation. /sarc
“NASA should tap the private sector more actively” the correct work is LEECH!
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