Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Space

Ares I-X

4 Comments

…isn’t getting much love in comments over at Space Transport News. At least not the kind that its supporters would like to see:

Perhaps NASA should keep the Ares I-X in storage until the 4th of July next year. I imagine the flaming propellant debris cloud would be pretty cool to watch.
Posted by Neil H. at 08/15/09 12:28:55

4th of July is too long to wait. I vote for New Years fireworks spectacular.
Posted by john hare at 08/15/09 13:02:52

How about Labor Day, send Summer out with a bang.
Posted by anonymous at 08/15/09 13:16:56

This “test,” which isn’t testing actual flight hardware, has cost (so far) a third of a billion dollars. That’s about the same as the estimate for the launch escape system for the Dragon. Sometimes it seems that people who advocate more money for NASA seem to have no concept of cost and value.

4 thoughts on “Ares I-X”

  1. Congressional hearings might be in order. The Augustine commission has concluded that even if Santa Claus gave us all of Constellation for free we would have to scrap it because operating costs would be to high. How is it possible that it takes more than 4 years and countless billions to find this out? Might there be something wrong with the decision making process? Griffin was hired to do something that would be safe, simple and soon. Is this what Congress had in mind when they authorised current plans? Should they be willing to sink more money into NASA before the root cause has been identified and remedied? Is there any reason for Congress to believe in NASA cost and schedule estimates ever again?

    The members of the Constellation Standing Review Board might have some awkward questions to answer. Hearings would give Barney Frank an opportunity to look fiscally responsible.

  2. Sometimes it seems that people who advocate more money for NASA seem to have no concept of cost and value.

    Such is the path to true happiness.

    Just accept the fact that the taxes we pay are just the taxes we pay. Death, taxes, you can’t be going around worrying about stuff you can’t change.

    Just ignor them and pretend the money that goes into the widthholding thingy is just some number like an account number or something. That the property tax is just your kids school expenses and the taxes on your gas is just the fee to use the road. Then you will be happy and carefree.

    Mom and dad aren’t around any more so let the government take care of the health thing and the food and stuff. It would be nice if we all just lived in a big summer camp where the wise councilors took care of everything and the mess hall had okay food so we didn’t have to worry about cooking or dieting or anything like that and gave us stuff to do like making ashtrays and hiking and stuff.

  3. We have PA-1 for New Years. It stays lower, so you can watch it longer, but it’s a bit of a trip to see it.

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