Posted on 11/09/2004 9:58:50 AM PST by cogitator
I'm excerpting this because it's a long article. Go to the link to read the whole sordid story.
"About a year ago, Orbital's Launch Division changed the stage two igniter in the Pegasus launch vehicle that would be used to launch DART. They eventually determined that the launch environment would be different and that it would present a larger launch load - one which would have damaged the DART spacecraft.
At the time of the change NASA asked Orbital Launch Division for information on this change and how it would affect the mission. Orbital Launch Division dragged their feet and eventually told NASA not to worry. This situation continued until last week. Senior management at Orbital was apparently not at all interested in seeing this issue raised with its customer, NASA.
Within Orbital Sciences Corporation a conflict arose. Orbital's Space Division repeatedly went to Orbital's Launch Division and told them that these new launch loads would indeed damage the spacecraft. Eventually, the Space Division people felt that they could not keep this information from NASA any longer.
In a telecon last Friday, an Orbital Vice President finally admitted to NASA that the changes in the launch vehicle would create different launch loads than had originally been expected - and that this could indeed damage the DART spacecraft. They also admitted that this was not a new concern, but rather one they had known about for some time.
NASA was not at all happy to learn this."
What. A. Mess.
[insert SERIOUS violations of the "No Profanity" rule here]
But where does Halliburton figure into this?
/sarcasm
Som econtractors seem to LIKE smashing holes in the desert with multi-million dollar space probes ala Genesis.
*snort*
Sounds like they aren't really interested in science anymore, but money.
As long as they get paid at least SOME of the contract, they're happy.
At least that's how it looks to this non-aerospace non-engineer type.
I just hope they changed the name of the project to LAWN DART.
Thanks for posting this. It'll fit in very nicely with my "Rocket Science" lecture tonight.
Certainly, though, OSC should PAY for their deception (i.e. a hit on their contract). No doubt they will (its happened before, believe me).
NASA was not at all happy to learn this."
Really???? How about the tax payers?
OSC will take a big hit, or that'll be their last contract with NASA. Not something theyd like to see happen.
That's what I was thinking too.
I almost feel like sending this to Sen. Nelson.
If they launch DART successfully they get paid for one launch. If the DART payload is damaged but the launch was "successful" then they will get paid for two launches -- the damaged DART and its eventual replacement.
Thing is, some proportion of the population are just plain stupid; its a darn shame if you ask me.
The cat's out of the bag. Now, theyll be liucky to be paid for one.
If the payload was damaged and the cause was traceable back to their (mis)management of the launch - and apparently this would be easy to do in this case - they'd probably get a major hit in the final payment from the government.
Remember, this is NASA we're talking about. They'll probably get more money now...
NASA's budget has been pretty much frozen at 15 billion for some time now. You must be thinking about the defense budget.
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