SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the better-faster-cheaper....-pick-two dept.
Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
Poor NASA: it's got a president who doesn't like its climate research and wants it to pay more attention to putting humans on the Moon and Mars – but its launch vehicle for that kind of mission is costing too much.
That vehicle is the Space Launch System, a rocket hoped to be capable of one day hauling loads up to 130,000kg and reaching Mars.
In a Request For Information (RFI) that hit Federal Business Opportunities late last week, the agency revealed wants to trim the costs to build, operate and maintain the SLS, Orion, and Exploration Ground System (EGS) projects.
As the RFI notes: "Given NASA's assumption of flat funding levels, minimising POM [production, operations and maintenance – The Register] costs for SLS, Orion, and EGS is critical to free resources for re-investment".
The money it hopes to free up would make it easier to fund space walks, docking systems, Mars exploration and safety efforts.
The RFI opens up pretty much the gamut of SLS and Orion activities, including whether or not there's a commercial user base for the lifters.
At the end of last week, NASA announced that the SLS's propulsion system is in the Marshall test stand, ready for the first test of its Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 26 2016, @04:28AM
If it weren't for you, we could have had a President that wasn't a complete buffoon, but no, you folks had to support a corrupt incompetent.
It's a shame the rest of us have to suffer because of your sexism.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 26 2016, @04:59AM
You're feeling the Bern now, loser.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by davester666 on Saturday November 26 2016, @09:28AM
What do you mean?
The US did elect an corrupt incompetent. Does it really matter if the person is male or female?
Hell, "drain the swamp" is an awesome catchphrase. The only problem with it is that everyone assumes it means Donald doesn't want the swamp to exist. Donald really wants to be the only one in it.
What's even funnier is that while he has made a bunch of his appointee's sign a fairly meaningless form to not be a lobbyist for some period of time, right now, Donald is directly accepting bundles of cash from a bunch of foreign governments to gain access to him.
You didn't want Hillary because she did "pay for access". Donald cut out the middle-man.
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Sunday November 27 2016, @12:57AM
as a percentage of the Federal budget NASA received more money during the Republican Bush Jr. years than it received under the Democrat Obama years.
It doesn't matter who is in office, NASA hasn't really gotten the money they need since 1969. Once the US put someone on the moon NASA's budget became the target of just about every congress critter who wanted to get money transferred to their pet local pork project. No matter who was elected that wouldn't change.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/feb/01/nasa-budgets-us-spending-space-travel [theguardian.com]
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."