NASA and Space Station Alliance On Shaky Ground 73
coondoggie writes "Even as the latest shift of astronauts arrived at the International Space Station, challenges with the orbital outpost on the ground are threatening its future. Those challenges include the pending retirement of the space shuttle but also the way NASA and the ISS are managed. A report issued this week by the Government Accountability Office said NASA faces several significant issues that may impede efforts to maximize utilization of all ISS research facilities."
Note to editors on article link (Score:3, Informative)
2) Here is the one page, print version: http://www.networkworld.com/cgi-bin/mailto/x.cgi?pagetosend=/export/home/httpd/htdocs/news/2009/122309-layer8-nasa-iss-astronauts.html&pagename=/news/2009/122309-layer8-nasa-iss-astronauts.html&pageurl=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/122309-layer8-nasa-iss-astronauts.html&site=printpage [networkworld.com]
Re:What a shame (Score:2, Informative)
Re:No human spaceflight can't help (Score:4, Informative)
Unless you are a time traveler, that's an opinion - not a fact.
Assuming, of course, that DIRECT doesn't behave like pretty much any other large scale aerospace engineering project and end up cost well above estimates while performing well below predictions.
Re:No human spaceflight can't help (Score:2, Informative)
Even the number and type of engines has not been decided for Ares V, the supposed Batman to the Ares I Robin.
By contrast, all the major pieces and launch infrastructure are available to make the NLS/DIRECT idea work if the decision is made to take that route.
Re:No human spaceflight can't help (Score:4, Informative)
One billion a year extra isn't going to get a heavy lift rocket ready in nine years.
Note also that that extra billion is the lowest rate of growth of any budget item so far. Most of them are getting 9-12% increases, this is closer to 6%....