Rogue NASA Science Team Pitches New Spacecraft Designs to Obama

Gizmodo ^ | 10 Jan., 2009 | Gizmodo

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Just couldn’t resist taking a cheap shot at Governor Palin could they?

[llevrok]

I love rogue skunkworks. Great to see there still are some cowboys out there!

[pabianice]

[SteamShovel]

Just couldn’t resist taking a cheap shot at Governor Palin could they?

.....they are effectively going rogue, not unlike an Alaskan governor in a Saks Fifth Avenue.....

They didn't even make grammatical sense doing it.

[gusopol3]

best aimed shot since Plexico Burris in a night club

[BradyLS]

These teams weren't sanctioned by NASA top brass, so in a way they are effectively going rogue, not unlike an Alaskan governor in a Saks Fifth Avenue. They were also not towing the company line about the future of the space program. In fact, they argued that NASA should scrap the upcoming Ares rocket program in lieu of a new program called Jupiter Direct, which relies heavily on proven current-gen space shuttle program technologies and rocket parts.

Okay, for the record, we see here the obligatory media drive-by at Sarah Palin in an article that has nothing whatsoever to do with her. ...And another mangling of a common phrase by a "journalist": "towing the line". Folks, the saying is "toe the line" or "toeing the line." To accept the policies, principles or authority of a particular group. (Literally, referring to an imaginary line that soldiers and sailors form upon by aligning the toe of their boots or shoes on it.)

[null and void]

How long before Jupiter Direct becomes Jupiter Mining Corporation?

[SteamShovel]

I love rogue skunkworks. Great to see there still are some cowboys out there!

Rogue NASA Science Team Pitches New Spacecraft Designs to Obama

I'm not up on what is going on with or within NASA. You may well be right to be excited about this. But I'm cautious whenever "rogues" make an end run to the "top". It reminds me of the Reagan and Bush "Administration" leaks to the press that make the POTUS look bad. Usually they are closet RATS or State Department liberals just looking to cause trouble.

Either the existing NASA brass is so oppressive and/or incompetent that these "rogues" felt a real need to do this, -or- these guys really don't have anything worthwhile and the NASA brass is doing the right thing to limit it.

I prefer to see organizations work properly and within the chain of command if at all possible. Running to Obama seems seedy.

[gusopol3]

water-skiing, baby!!!

[mamelukesabre]

WHat? No more space shuttle?

[FReepaholic]

...so in a way they are effectively going rogue, not unlike an Alaskan governor in a Saks Fifth Avenue...

Sorry, I stopped reading at that point.

[Bender2]

BUMP for later read after football!

[Ole Okie]

They didn't even make grammatical sense doing it

Yeah, and he (they) don't know it's "Toe the line", not "Tow the line".

As in "Get up to the line and toe it, the 100 yard dash is about to start".

[piytar]

“not unlike an Alaskan governor in a Saks Fifth Avenue”

The author’s credibility went right into the dump with that azzinine statement. It reveals that the author is more political hack than an actual science reporter.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Either the existing NASA brass is so oppressive and/or incompetent that these "rogues" felt a real need to do this, -or- these guys really don't have anything worthwhile and the NASA brass is doing the right thing to limit it.

I'll take door number one, Chuck.

If Obama listens to these guys it might be the smartest thing he has done, yet.

[calvinand hobbes]

“Either the existing NASA brass is so oppressive and/or incompetent that these felt a real need to do this, -or- these guys really don’t have anything worthwhile and the NASA brass is doing the right thing to limit it.”

You are correct in that Congress has oppressed and regulated NASA’s Administration to death. But you are also correct with your second assessment - it is not a worthwhile project and the men involved are “whack-jobs”. My husband, who has worked with NASA contracts in the past says the rocket does not even work - never has and never will. It is a poor design.

[SunkenCiv]

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[KevinDavis]