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posted by Fnord666 on Monday October 15 2018, @11:18PM   Printer-friendly
from the ouch! dept.

Elon Musk pegs SpaceX BFR program at $5B as NASA's rocket booster nears $5B in cost overruns

[Compared] to Boeing's first serious 2014 contract for the SLS Core Stages – $4.2B to complete Core Stages 1 and 2 and launch EM-1 in Nov. 2017 – the company will ultimately end up 215% over-budget ($4.2B to $8.9B) and ~40 months behind schedule (42 months to 80+ months from contract award to completion). Meanwhile, as OIG notes, NASA has continued to give Boeing impossibly effusive and glowing performance reviews to the tune of $323 million in "award fees", with grades that would – under the contracting book NASA itself wrote – imply that Boeing SLS Core Stage work has been reliably under budget and ahead of schedule (it's not).

[...] Boeing – recently brought to light as the likely source of a spate of egregiously counterfactual op-eds published with the intention of dirtying SpaceX's image – also took it upon itself to sponsor what could be described as responses to NASA OIG's scathing October 10th SLS audit. Hilariously, a Politico newsletter sponsored by Boeing managed to explicitly demean and belittle the Apollo-era Saturn V rocket as a "rickety metal bucket built with 1960s technology", of which Boeing was very tenuously involved thanks to its eventual acquisition of companies that actually built Saturn and sent humans to the Moon.

At the same time, that newsletter described SLS as a rocket that will be "light years ahead of thespacecraft [sic] that NASA astronauts used to get to the moon 50 years ago." At present, the only clear way SLS is or will be "light years" ahead – as much a measure of time as it is of distance – of Saturn V is by continuing the rocket's trend of endless delays. Perhaps NASA astronomers will soon be able to judge exactly how many "light years ahead" SLS is by measuring the program's redshift or blueshift with one of several ground- and space-based telescopes.

Here's a typical Boeing shill response (archive) to the NASA Inspector General report.

See also: Will the US waste $100+ billion on SLS, Orion and LOP-G by 2030?

Previously: Maiden Flight of the Space Launch System Delayed to 2019 (now delayed to June 2020, likely 2021)
First SLS Mission Will be Unmanned
After the Falcon Heavy Launch, Time to Defund the Space Launch System?
NASA's Chief of Human Spaceflight Rules Out Use of Falcon Heavy for Lunar Station
House Spending Bill Offers NASA More Money Than the Agency or Administration Wanted
NASA Administrator Ponders the Fate of SLS in Interview
There's a New Report on SLS Rocket Management, and It's Pretty Brutal


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  • (Score: 5, Informative) by slap on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:26AM (3 children)

    by slap (5764) on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:26AM (#749316)

    John F. Kennedy said September 12, 1962 :

    "We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things,..... "

    On July 20, 1969 we made it.

    Saturn V - On time.

    • (Score: 5, Funny) by bob_super on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:52AM (2 children)

      by bob_super (1357) on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:52AM (#749322)

      "Why be on time if you're paid more when you're late?" - Anonymous Government Contractor Inc

      • (Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:07AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:07AM (#749328)

        "No." It's a simple - yet powerful - word. Yet, despite this, the latest generations did not grasp this word's meaning, having never been told, "No." This has resulted in an entire generation of people who are whiny, entitled, and do not understand boundaries.

        This is all too simple to see, but what is less simple is envisioning a real solution to the problem. If the newer generations' parents aren't going to teach them boundaries, then who will? Schools? The government? No. Since neither schools nor the government could accomplish it, the difficult task of guiding the new generations down the right path was left to men like Warrenson.

        Warrenson. He was a man who was profoundly concerned about the future. In fact, no one spent more time thinking about the future and worrying about future generations than Warrenson. That was ultimately the reason why he was currently standing before that little girl: To teach her the meaning of discipline.

        Discipline. It was something that this bratty little girl clearly did not comprehend. Her former actions proved this, which was why Warrenson had no choice but to instill a sense of boundaries and discipline within her. And he was an iron-willed man who would follow through on his word.

        "Take this! And this!" Warrenson bellowed, as he slammed his genitals deep inside her. She screamed and cried for him to stop, but that was merely a sign that his lesson was working. "How dare you! How dare you!" the man screeched. Indeed, her actions had been extremely offensive; it was to the point where most people would have vomited on sight. So, what heinous deeds did the little girl perpetrate that caused Warrenson to experience such wrath? She had stuck her tongue out at him.

        "How dare you rebel against men," Warrenson spat out, as he slammed her in the back with his mallet. "And how dare you mother raise you this way," the man continued. Yes, her mother was indeed a bad parent, which was why Warrenson had snuck up behind her and bashed her brains out with his trusty mallet. Now that she was out of the picture, he could focus on guiding the little girl down the proper path. Or, that had been the plan, anyway. The sound of something slumping down onto the concrete was heard.

        Broken. The little girl had simply broke. First, she had the audacity to oppose men, and then she dared to turn into a lifeless puppet during Warrenson's valuable lesson, effectively spitting in the face of his kindness! Unbelievable. Though Warrenson was furious, this was such a common occurrence with the new generations that he could not feel too angry. Instead, he simply tossed the girl and her mother into a nearby dumpster and went on his way.

        That's right; he had no time to dwell on those wretched pieces of trash. There were plenty more children who were in need of Warrenson's guidance, after all...

      • (Score: 5, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:29PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:29PM (#749539) Journal

        There is no Sad But True mod.

        --
        People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
  • (Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:51AM (2 children)

    by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:51AM (#749321)

    At this point it looks like Boeing is just a way for politicians to give US taxpayers money away.

    If a useful product comes out the other end, that's nice bonus. The important thing is a bunch of jobs the Senator or Congressman can point to.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by MostCynical on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:10AM (1 child)

      by MostCynical (2589) on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:10AM (#749329) Journal

      If a useful product comes out the other end, that's nice bonusmoney that could have been spent on bigger bonuses.

      FTFY

      --
      "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
  • (Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:58AM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:58AM (#749325)

    Shills? More fairly unbalanced than an aristarchus submission. Guess editorship has its privilege.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:45AM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:45AM (#749344)

      It sounds to me like aristarchus needs to unplug, man. You know, get some R and R?

      • (Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:48AM (2 children)

        by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:48AM (#749346) Journal

        IDK, the right plug might help out a lot.

        --
        [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
        • (Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:50AM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:50AM (#749371)

          Who is this aristarchus of whom you speak? Does he have a fixation on the SLS?

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:07PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:07PM (#749506)

            Hmm, from what I've gathered in this thread, it sounds like he may be homosexual, and thus likely a member of the alt-right.

  • (Score: 2) by snufu on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:19AM (5 children)

    by snufu (5855) on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:19AM (#749333)

    That put the first human on the moon. On the fing moon. On time. Whereas Boeing has the lead in creating a "bloated, grounded, peice of vaporvessel built with 2010s pork and mirrors."

    And lel at the astronomer smack:

    'Perhaps NASA astronomers will soon be able to judge exactly how many "light years ahead" SLS is by measuring the program's redshift or blueshift with one of several ground- and space-based telescopes.'

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:22AM (4 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:22AM (#749334)

      No, the rickety metal bucket put the "astronauts" on a soundstage... flags don't flutter on the real moon.

      • (Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:53AM (3 children)

        by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:53AM (#749352)

        Good Lord! What's next, a Flat Earther on SoylentNews?

        Unless that's some kind of joke. In which case: well played sir!

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:21AM (2 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:21AM (#749359)

          Flat Earth, electric universe, you name it.

          But I think we need more weather war.

          In fact, the flag fluttering on the moon is proof of a lunar atmosphere that NOAA doesn't want us to know about! (Clearly!) NOAA is planning to use chemtrails and artificial hail storms against anyone who tries to set up a moon base before Boeing!

          • (Score: 2) by Kell on Tuesday October 16 2018, @04:03AM (1 child)

            by Kell (292) on Tuesday October 16 2018, @04:03AM (#749394)

            -1 Incomprehendable?

            --
            Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:09PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:09PM (#749508)

              Damn. This is why we need more conspiracy theory innovation! Weather war is just asking for greenfield development. Should I have made the moon hollow and put the atmosphere on the inside?

  • (Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:25AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @01:25AM (#749336)

    At least Boeing has a Chairman.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:35AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:35AM (#749366)

    Isn't that why the GAO was created?

    One would think the GOA would mosie on over to NASA, and instruct them that if they don't demand the fucking bonus checks back, somebody is going to jail. Because when the federal government pays for shit it didn't get, that is called fraud, and it is a felony.

    Of course you don't see much reporting on things like that. God knows it isn't as cool as conspiring to astroturf for mobbed up chop shop brokerages that couldn't take a joke on twitter. But hey, it is actually a crime. A real one. Not a brainfart on a medium that is specifically built to maximize the desemination of brain farts.

    • (Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Tuesday October 16 2018, @07:26AM

      by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Tuesday October 16 2018, @07:26AM (#749429) Homepage Journal

      That's how I requested a defense contractor release me from an unclassified subcontract of their classified one.

      They actually went so far as to have prototype hardware built with THE WRONG PART soldered right in, despite that they knew damn well I'd spent six weeks trying to work around a mask error.

      The vendor's developer tech support resigned a month after I so informed the primary contractor.

      ProTip: Don't select the part then select the consultant who knows about that part, rather select the consultant who selects the part that actually works.

      Indigita would have been just fine.

      --
      Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:22PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 16 2018, @02:22PM (#749533)

      $323 million?

      I think a false claims act suite might be appropriate. After all the negotiation is done, there could be a whole new space company born just from the juice on litigating the bonus's.

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Tuesday October 16 2018, @07:20AM (4 children)

    by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Tuesday October 16 2018, @07:20AM (#749428) Homepage Journal

    "It's a finance company that just happens to make airplanes."

    He offered me the use of his 3D printer but I have no clue what to make with it.

    --
    Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Tuesday October 16 2018, @08:01AM (3 children)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Tuesday October 16 2018, @08:01AM (#749436) Journal

      I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening?

      Dildos. There's a great future in dildos. Think about it. Will you think about it?
      --
      [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
      • (Score: 2) by SpockLogic on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:45PM (2 children)

        by SpockLogic (2762) on Tuesday October 16 2018, @12:45PM (#749497)

        But if Boeing built one it would be the size of a 747 fuselage. That would sure as hell make your eyes water.

        --
        Overreacting is one thing, sticking your head up your ass hoping the problem goes away is another - edIII
  • (Score: 2) by linkdude64 on Tuesday October 16 2018, @10:21PM (1 child)

    by linkdude64 (5482) on Tuesday October 16 2018, @10:21PM (#749680)

    von Braun was a greater man than any who would ever look twice at the nonsense they call writing. The science community should be up in arms.

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