Political Commentary, Space

But Other Than That, It’s Great

2 Comments

Some criticism (to put it mildly) of Constellation over at SpaceVidCast, in comments.

I agree with the commenter over at Clark’s place, though, that the purpose of the program should not be to create jobs, and layoffs at NASA centers are a feature, rather than a bug, if we want to get more for the taxpayers’ money. Of course, if NASA could come up with something useful for those people to do in advancing the goal of becoming a spacefaring nation, and keep them on, that would be even better.

2 thoughts on “But Other Than That, It’s Great”

  1. layoffs at NASA centers are a feature, rather than a bug, if we want to get more for the taxpayers’ money

    Unfortunately, for the people making the decisions (i.e. Congress), layoffs are only a bug. Is there any chance at all of Congress funding a plan that means big layoffs in Florida, Alabama and Utah?

    Having private companies like SpaceX launch from Florida helps a little, but SpaceX is cheaper precisely because it employs fewer people per kg to orbit.

  2. but SpaceX is cheaper precisely because it employs fewer people per kg to orbit.

    This assumes that a cheaper system will not increase demand. If the price halves and demand triples, you come out ahead. SpaceX probably wouldn’t hit that point, but then SpaceX is really that much of a savings anyway.

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