[Frank_Discussion]

SATOP is just a way to get solutions out to small businesses that don't have the resources the big boys use. It's meant to spread newer technology and design techniques to more users. A leg up to entreprenuers and local entities.

NASA and even NSF are often questioned on their practicality, when their missions don't deal all that heavily on practical matters. Then, of course, when the science is actually funded to spread beyond the boundaries of the original research, people scream "Government waste! Government waste! pork barrels!"

Nobody is ever happy...

Maybe I can make you happy today - Here's the link:

http://www.spacetechsolutions.com/index.asp

[RightWhale]

Thanks for the link.

I don't favor Federal grants for much of anything. Even though I believe government's place, one of its proper uses, is to fund science and development on the national level, I don't favor grants to the private sector, nor to State and Local governments. Disaster relief would be appropriate in some cases.

NASA shouldn't have any grants programs except for the usual few scholarships. Contracts for work to be done directly for NASA can go to the private sector or state universities, that isn't a problem. NASA should be putting all its effort into exploring outer space and aeronautics and developing space infrastructure. Passing tech along to the private sector can be done easily through publishing reports. In other words, these outreach programs aren't necessary and could be construed as pork.