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NASA Shuttle Replacement's Problems Are Worsening

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the parts-is-parts dept.

ausoleil noted that NASA's replacement for the shuttle, the Orion, is slipping behind schedule "'We're probably going to have to move our target date,' NASA exploration chief Doug Cooke told The Associated Press on Wednesday after Nasawatch.com posted the 117-page internal status report (PDF) on the moon program. The cost problems include an $80 million overrun on a motor system. The Orion spacecraft's design remains too heavy for the proposed Ares 1 rocket. Software development, heat shield testing and other complex work remain behind schedule or over budget. There are dozens of such serious challenges, many of which are 'worsening.'"

2 of 344 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Just wait by smittyoneeach · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Just set up a national tip jar on something akin to PayPal.
    Citizens actually want to fund space activities, not the stuff that's killing us: http://perotcharts.com/
    Dis-intermediating DC is step #1 in carrying out the will of the people.

    --
    Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
  2. Re:yeah, that's right. i'm not a rocket scientist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The more expensive and the longer it takes, the more the contractors make. There's no motivation to be on time and under budget.

    Not true... cost plus is good if you don't want the "lowest bidder" mentality. Although underhanded tactics will inevitably exist, NASA only pays contractors cost plus a FIXED profit for the contractor.

    They have no incentive to run over on the time