NASA and Space Station Alliance On Shaky Ground

coondoggie writes "Even as the latest shift of astronauts arrived at the International Space Station, challenges with the orbital outpost on the ground are threatening its future. Those challenges include the pending retirement of the space shuttle but also the way NASA and the ISS are managed. A report issued this week by the Government Accountability Office said NASA faces several significant issues that may impede efforts to maximize utilization of all ISS research facilities."

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Note to editors on article link

[GasparGMSwordsman]

1) You link to the comments at the bottom of the article.
2) Here is the one page, print version: http://www.networkworld.com/cgi-bin/mailto/x.cgi?pagetosend=/export/home/httpd/htdocs/news/2009/122309-layer8-nasa-iss-astronauts.html&pagename=/news/2009/122309-layer8-nasa-iss-astronauts.html&pageurl=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/122309-layer8-nasa-iss-astronauts.html&site=printpage

Re:What a shame

[Anonymous Coward]

Mine is the Ramses-Hattusili Treaty.

Re:No human spaceflight can't help

[DerekLyons]

Not only that, but Space-X's Falcon/Dragon vehicle will be ready well before then.

Unless you are a time traveler, that's an opinion - not a fact.
 

Of course, NASA always has the option of building an alternative launch system for a lot less money than the ARES craft.

Assuming, of course, that DIRECT doesn't behave like pretty much any other large scale aerospace engineering project and end up cost well above estimates while performing well below predictions.

Re:No human spaceflight can't help

[fotoguzzi]

Ares I is really not almost done, and the many redesigns of the Orion capsule to make up for Ares I's deficiencies have delayed the programme further. I believe (I may be wrong here) that the J-2X upper stage engine and not Orion is the "long pole" development item for Ares I.

Even the number and type of engines has not been decided for Ares V, the supposed Batman to the Ares I Robin.

By contrast, all the major pieces and launch infrastructure are available to make the NLS/DIRECT idea work if the decision is made to take that route.

Re:No human spaceflight can't help

[CrimsonAvenger]

"Reporting on a White House and NASA meeting last Wednesday, sources say that the President has decided to give NASA an additional $US1 billion in 2011. The extra funding will serve to create a new heavy lift rocket, as well as to increase the fleet of satellites controlling Earth's land, oceans and atmosphere.
The objective is to have the heavy rocket ready for a 2018 launch"

One billion a year extra isn't going to get a heavy lift rocket ready in nine years.

Note also that that extra billion is the lowest rate of growth of any budget item so far. Most of them are getting 9-12% increases, this is closer to 6%....