Northtrop Grumman's CEV
Posted on 07/30/2006 6:09:21 AM PDT by The_Victor
Last-minute objections from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) are not expected to derail NASA's long-awaited selection of a Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) prime contractor.
In its report, " NASA: Long-Term Commitment to and Investment in Space Exploration Program Requires More Knowledge," the GAO says NASA's acquisition strategy for the CEV program needs to be overhauled and it urges the U.S. space agency to hold off on signing a long-term contract for the proposed space shuttle replacement until 2008, the year NASA officials expect to commit to a preliminary design for the CEV and have a better idea of what it will cost to build.
NASA, however, says it will be ready by September to conclude a deal for the design, development and eventual production of the CEV and fully intends to do so.
"We do not concur with GAO's recommendation that the NASA administrator modify the CEV acquisition strategy," NASA spokesman Michael Braukus said July 27. "The agency's business approach is consistent with the GAO's recommendation and NASA is confident that its acquisition strategy and plans for selecting a CEV prime contractor are based on a sound business case and are in the government's best interest."
Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin is competing against the combined team of Northrop Grumman-Boeing for a CEV prime contract expected to be worth billions of dollars. Both of those teams have been under contract since last summer doing CEV concept development work for NASA. Braukus said NASA is on track to pick a CEV contractor and award the contract as soon as Aug. 31.
NASA originally intended to keep two teams competing for the CEV prime contract through 2008 and make a final selection based on the results of a prototype flyoff. NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, after taking office last year, scrapped the flyoff idea as unaffordable, and moved up the CEV prime contractor selection well ahead of a preliminary design review currently slated for March 2008.
The preliminary design review is a major program milestone intended to provide NASA its first refined cost estimate before the detailed design work begins. Keeping two teams under contract through the preliminary design review, NASA estimates, would cost the agency an additional $2 billion.
Government Accountability Office auditors worry that NASA is asking for trouble by entering into a contract that would run at least through 2014 - and possibly through 2019 - before developing "key elements of a sound business case, including well-defined requirements, a preliminary design, mature technology, and firm cost estimates."
"NASA's current acquisition strategy for the CEV places the project at risk of significant cost overruns, schedule delays, and performance shortfalls because it commits the government to a long-term product development effort before establishing a sound business case," the Government Accountability Office wrote in a 22-page report released July 26.
Noting that NASA intends to award a full CEV contract in September despite these warnings, the report urges Congress to "consider restricting annual appropriations and limiting NASA's obligations for the CEV project to only the amount of funding necessary to support activities needed to successfully complete the project's preliminary design review."
The GAO report was requested by House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and his Democratic counterpart Rep. Bart Gordon (news, bio, voting record) (Tenn.).
"GAO has provided an important early-warning signal that all may not be well with NASA's approach to implementing the exploration initiative," Gordon said in a statement. "I think Congress needs to take a serious look at the issues GAO raises. We have seen too many examples in recent years of government programs that deviated significantly from their original cost, schedule, and performance goals to ignore GAO's concerns."
Boehlert said in a statement issued July 26 that he shared the GAO's concerns "about the need to obtain full information before entering into long-term commitments" and plans to hold a hearing this autumn on the issues raised in the report. However, Boehlert gave no indication he intended to stand in the way of NASA making a CEV contract award this summer, noting in the statement that he is "eager to see NASA continue planning and designing the CEV."
In addition to challenging NASA's CEV acquisition plans, the report also questions whether NASA can really afford to return to the Moon by 2020 via the path it laid out last year.
Ping.
NASA needs to get their act together soon. Although I think the private sector needs to step up as well.
Call the ISS a Truck Stop and Motel center and Bigelow Aerospace can build and operate it.
Rename the shuttle an over the road truck and Kenilworth (sic) can drive it and haul cargo.
Name the lunar carrier a package delivery vehicle and UPS and FedEx can do the transporting.
Name the Lunar colony a mining/vacation or honeymoon stopover and Resorts Iternational and Halliburton can vy for occupency space.
Privatize space and we'll be on our way to the stars, AdAstra!!
The only thing stopping any of your suggestions is that there aren't enough investors who think that the venture will be profitable.
If the Helium Three fires are stroked, (fusion generation on the Moon for electrical power on the Earth) the investments would flow. Especially if the "greens" get behind the plan to move all energy production off planet to "be nice" to our atmosphere!
I've said before that if I were Prez I would set a worldwide goal to move ALL heavy industry off planet by the year 2050. The increased wealth and parklike enviroment would benefit ALL mankind!!!
Hehehehehe....
I like the way you think. Ya got my vote. :)
Right, government fraud isn't quite good enough.
Northtrop Grumman's CEV
good summary of the CEV program here
http://www.answers.com/topic/crew-exploration-vehicle
That's not LM's CEV. Or if it is, they don't have a chance of getting the contract, because NASA has stipulated that it will be a capsule. That looks like their OSP concept.
That looks like Lockheed's Crew Escape Vehicle from several years ago.
That's right, boys, stay out of the red tape!
You, sir, are the winner!
Don't I remember James Blish and the 'Cities in Flight'series of stories from the 60's and the'Spin Dizzies'
Same thing. They've been recycling the same design for years, but NASA won't let them get away with it for the CEV, because they've demanded a capsule in the program requirements.
Oh really? And just what would the earthbound do for economic activity? flip burgers, shuffle paper, sue each other, and walk each other's dogs? Heavy industry will never cease on Earth. It just won't pay to manufacture all the components for heavy and military equipment in LEO and try to ship it down. This is an enviro-whacko pipe dream.
NASA has already issued the preliminary design specs. The first CEV mockup (capsule) is already built and resides in building 9 at JSC. If NASA is insisting on a capsule design rather than a recycled Crew Escape Vehicle, then it isn't the same thing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.