It’s time for NASA to get out of the launch business.
I’ve only been saying this for over two decades.
Don’t read the comments, though.
[Tuesday-morning update]
Bob Zimmerman is very encouraged about the future of America in space.
Light posting today if at all, because I’ll be at the Space Tech Expo in Long Beach all day.
[Thursday-morning update]
Bob has a follow up post. I do think the proposal to reduce crew size on the ISS is penny-wise pound-foolish.
An interesting essay. I’m working with several people to pursue LASSO. It’s primarily a tech demo for low-altitude lunar orbit, but if it works, we could get a good map of the resource.
I largely agree with these recommendations. I doubt if there’s been any serious discussion with OMB about NASA.
It’s the first successful landing on the Moon of a private company.
But Max Polyakov was screwed over by the Deep State.
Next up: The next flight of Starship/SH tomorrow afternoon.
Demystifying him.
This reminds me of the last time Hubble needed repairs two decades ago, and Sean O’Keefe didn’t want to risk a crew on it after Columbia. When Mike Griffin came in, he reversed the decision. I won’t be surprised if the same thing happens this time.
Eric Berger describes potential changes in policy in a Trump administration. Not sure why they would consolidate Goddard and Ames in Huntsville. This would also make it inconvenient for Goddard to work with APL at Johns Hopkins.
This is the future of serious astronomy.
Failed space “czar.”
Not that it in any way distinguishes her from her other failures. But FWIW, I hate the word “czar” as a title for anyone in an American government. There is no constitutional authority for “czars.”
It looks like Polaris Dawn is finally about to launch.
Everyone has noted that this will be the highest-altitude flight since Apollo, but all of the Apollo astronauts were men. Menon and Gillis will hold the altitude record for women after this, until a woman goes to the moon (which may or not be on Artemis, given the ongoing boondoggle).
Lord help us, the new cost estimate of NASA’s Mobile Launcher-2 project is now a mind-boggling $2.7 billion.https://t.co/KE7WZEtcQ5
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) August 27, 2024
[Update a while later]
Bob Zimmerman has thoughts on the latest SLS fiasco.
[Wednesday-afternoon update]
I weep when I consider what *actual useful* space hardware we could have for $2.7B. https://t.co/USS3NwXBFx
— Rand Simberg (@Simberg_Space) August 27, 2024
The Webb telescope may have solved it.
I think it was actually more interesting when it was a clear disparity, because that might have been an opportunity to learn some new physics (and new physics will be required if we’re to venture beyond the solar system).