NASA Taps 7 Commercial Firms For Suborbital Flights 27
coondoggie writes "NASA this week picked seven commercial space companies to fly a manner of experiments on their suborbital aircraft. According to NASA the companies will split $10 million and get a two-year contract that will let NASA set up a pool of reusable suborbital systems that could help it test applications in everything from astrobiology to measuring the impact of a solar storm."
what a joke.... (Score:2, Insightful)
10 millions dollars isn't enough to do the paperwork that is involved with working with NASA let alone doing anything useful. Especially since its is split between 7 contractors - clearly a move designed to make it look like the US Space program isn't dead.....
Re:what a joke.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Huge budgets lead to bloat and bureaucracy. Small companies will be forced to look at every dollar spent, and be result-oriented.
Re:what a joke.... (Score:4, Insightful)
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Aeronautics: Noun: The science or practice of travel through the air.
Aeronautics are a key part of the research. I don't see how this is a "step back" -- it's necessary, and right now it fits the budget.