Is Ares 1 on life support?

Between rumored Ares performance issues and Orion weight growth, shrinking budgets, and a growing uprising among the space science folks (not to mention Richard Shelby), Dr. Griffin seems to have an unsolvable Rubik's cube. Something will have to give. I hope that it's The Stick. I wonder if they're on the verge of bowing to the inevitable, and reconsidering Atlas? And as commenters point out, what's the significance of May 23rd?

Rand,
As I said there, as much as I'd like to see the Stick go the way of the dodo, I'll believe it when I see it. There've been a lot of predictions in the past of it's doom, and at this point saving face while dropping the Shaft would be very tough. It's possible, but highly unlikely.

~Jon

Wasn't there a rumor that NASA was studying a "just in case" backup design, an Ares III or some such thing? Basically an ET with 2-3 RS68's under it I think.

"...what's the significance of May 23rd?"

Chris Bergin of NASASpaceFlight.com shared that May 23 was the date of the next scheduled Ares I review meeting.

> And as commenters point out, what's the significance of May 23rd?

NASA is having a review meeting, which Young's source apparently expects to go badly.

Beyond that, I'm not sure there is any significance. Orion/CLV has been going badly for some time. Yet, there's no indication that Griffin and Horowitz are willing to change course.

I got to agree. It's not clear to me what new information could sink Ares I at this point especially given that they can shave a little weight from the CEV if they need to. Though if they shave too much weight, they'll end up in EELV territory. That could be a problem for the Ares I supporters.

sorry, but John Young comes at last... :)

I was the FIRST to claim that and here are my articles and my alternative proposals:

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/011srb5.html

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/004.html

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/005_SLVnow.html

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/006_superSLV.html

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/007arianeX.html

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/010arianecev.html

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/019orionlight.html

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/023newAres.html

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/024aresF.html

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/020newLAS.html

-----------

Possible an Orioncopter ?

I don't know if this concept could be really built someday but (certainly) it's curious and amazing !

Everything about this fascinating idea is explained here:

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/025orioncopter.html

.

And now the rumor on collectspace.com in that thread is that the word on the street is that "lots of things are in stand down mode until the Administrator is dimissed, which they expect 'momentarily'." Quite possibly random noise from the echo chamber, but interesting anyway.

If Ares I goes under I think this is a good case to fold up NASA for good, not just Griffin.