NASA says it can't afford new rocket, spacecraft ("...not optional. It's the law...")

AFP ^ | January 13, 2011 | Jean-Louis Santini

[decimon]

WASHINGTON (AFP) – NASA this week told Congress it cannot afford to build a new heavy-lift rocket and spacecraft to replace the retiring space shuttle program within the timeframe and budget approved by lawmakers.

The plan to make a first launch of a new rocket and space capsule to carry astronauts by 2016 "does not appear to be possible" within the projected budget, NASA said in a report to legislators.

Four members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation shot back that the plan is not optional and that the US space agency must find a way.

"The production of a heavy-lift rocket and capsule is not optional. It's the law," said a joint statement issued late Wednesday by Senators John Rockefeller, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Bill Nelson and David Vitter.

"NASA must use its decades of space know-how and billions of dollars in previous investments to come up with a concept that works. We believe it can be done affordably and efficiently -- and, it must be a priority."

[1raider1]

No problemo. We can just keep using the ones we buy from Russia. They will always be there to sell us whatever we require.

[null and void]

I know! I know!!! Have our dear friends, the Saudis, fund it!

(Think of it as muslim outreach)...

[tet68]

Why can’t we just use the Ballistic boosters
Obama is so intent on dismantling, should be
plenty of them to work with. /S

[microgood]

"The production of a heavy-lift rocket and capsule is not optional. It's the law," said a joint statement issued late Wednesday by Senators John Rockefeller, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Bill Nelson and David Vitter.

Maybe they should just make a law reducing the acceleration due to gravity from 32ft/s2 to just 16 or so.

[rfp1234]

NASA is too busy researching promoting Gore Bull Warming.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

As an engineer at NASA I can say that I wholeheartedly agree. NASA has turned into, for the most part, a government jobs (”diversity is our strength,” “safety is our number one value,” - no mention of fine engineering...) program. Few at the mid-level care about schedules or budgets. Engineering is becoming a lost art as hard questions at critical design reviews are verboten - you will NOT be asked back if you ask why it was designed that way. All of the new money is going toward “Global Warming” research, etc.

[OldDeckHand]

"NASA is too busy researching promoting Gore Bull Warming. "

Not to worry. NASA has help in this regard. As I understand it, the CIA will now be responsible for measuring glacial retreat and other "effects" of climate change - you know, for "national security purposes". No. I'm not kidding.

[FatherofFive]

NASA this week told Congress it cannot afford to build a new heavy-lift rocket and spacecraft

How far we've come from, "Not because they are easy, but because they are hard" - John F. Kennedy, 1962.

But NASA can find time for Muslim Outeach.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Not at the pace that government works, anyway.

[Wizdum]

Falcon 9 Heavy from Space-X.

The Falcon 9 Heavy will be SpaceX’s entry into the heavy lift launch vehicle category. Capable of lifting over 32,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and over 19,500 kg to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), the Falcon 9 Heavy will compete with the largest commercial launchers now available. It consists of a standard Falcon 9 with two additional Falcon 9 first stages acting as liquid strap-on boosters. With the Falcon 9 first stage already designed to support the additional loads of this configuration and with common tanking and engines across both vehicles, development and operation of the Falcon 9 Heavy will be highly cost-effective.

[grobdriver]

"The production of a heavy-lift rocket and capsule is not optional. It's the law," said a joint statement issued late Wednesday by Senators John Rockefeller, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Bill Nelson and David Vitter.

Oh, it's the law?
Well that makes all the difference!

I'm ashamed that a Texas senator is involved in this stupidity. Thankfully she's retiring and we can maybe replace her with someone who has a clue.

[Politically Correct]

Fire them all.
Give the money to the Skunk Works guys.
Job done.

[driftdiver]

So we’ll have a ‘cutting edge rocket’ using decades old technology and built on a budget.

Any volunteers to be the first to ride this thing?

[driftdiver]

Don’t forget who’s in charge of NASA. He’s probably using all the budget for muslim outreach and global warming programs.

[linuxnut]

Heck, just have them use the F-1 from the S-1C of the Saturn V. Those things will lift anything and are reliable (or they were). Not much design needed there.

[ModelBreaker]

Perhaps if they diverted some of the money they waste trying to prove the man-made global warming theory, they could get a down payment on a rocket.

[hadaclueonce]

“I’m ashamed that a Texas senator is involved in this stupidity”

Think “Houston, we have a problem.”

It is all about funding. There will always be money to fund one more rocket punching holes in the ozone layer to figure out why the ozone layer is shrinking.

[GAB-1955]

There's SpaceX, there's Boeing, and there's Lockheed Martin with heavy-lift vehicles. We can do it without NASA.

[NavyCanDo]

All they have to do is announce they have located the Planet where those green Orion dancing girls are, but they need funding to reach it.