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Setbacks Cast Doubt On NASA's Ares Project

Posted by timothy on from the tax-dollars-to-space-at-best dept.

stoolpigeon writes with this excerpt from an Orlando Sentinel article about the Ares program, which paints a bleak picture of the program's future: "Bit by bit, the new rocket ship that is supposed to blast America into the second Space Age and return astronauts to the moon appears to be coming undone. First was the discovery that it lacked sufficient power to lift astronauts in a state-of-the-art capsule into orbit. Then engineers found out that it might vibrate like a giant tuning fork, shaking its crew to death. Now, in the latest setback to the Ares I, computer models show the ship could crash into its launch tower during liftoff. "

8 of 255 comments (clear)

  1. It is called engineering. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    There are going to be setbacks. Mistakes will be made. For the most part these rocket surgeons do the job, on time.

    Personally, I'd like to see them re-engineer the Saturn V. Didn't it run linux?

    1. Re:It is called engineering. by OriginalArlen · · Score: 2, Funny

      the ship could crash into its launch tower during liftoff"

      Would that be bad, then?

      --

      Everything I needed to know about life, I learnt from Blake's Seven
    2. Re:It is called engineering. by Hal_Porter · · Score: 4, Funny

      There are going to be setbacks. Mistakes will be made. For the most part these rocket surgeons do the job, on time.

      I think you mean brain scientists.

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
    3. Re:It is called engineering. by aproposofwhat · · Score: 3, Funny

      The Ares I is a crappy 25 tonne rocket that is being built because it will provide pork to Utah.

      Pigs will fly!

      The Ares V, which also supplies pork to Utah

      Ah, economies of scale - we can transport lots more pigs with a bigger rocket!

      --
      One swallow does not a fellatrix make
    4. Re:It is called engineering. by Col+Bat+Guano · · Score: 2, Funny

      Would you feel happy "riding" into space using "strap ons"?

  2. Come on, guys! by iocat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Common guys, this isn't rocket science!

    --

    Dude, I think I can see my house from here.

  3. Re:secret symbol was a crescent by MichaelSmith · · Score: 2, Funny

    Chair vibrating too much? simple.. just look at your compass floating away, undo your straps and let your chair crunch into the ceiling while you float for the rest of the trip.

    Only works with ships designed by aliens.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  4. Re:Sounds familar or what? by godfra · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Gavin writes a lengthy comment on Slashdot instead of documenting those processes as agreed last thursday."