I have some thoughts on the House authorization bill (which looks like it’s being voted perhaps tomorrow), over at PJM.
13 thoughts on “Saving Suborbital”
Comments are closed.
I have some thoughts on the House authorization bill (which looks like it’s being voted perhaps tomorrow), over at PJM.
Comments are closed.
It’s kind of annoying to see the comments on the PJM piece along the fanciful lines of “NASA is spending billions of dollars on Muslims!” and largely ignoring the topic of CRuSR.
Yes, what Neil says is true. However, if Rand can gently correct their lack of understanding, perhaps they can be urged to call their congressmen.
Every little bit counts.
Frankly, I’m quite happy letting suborbital launch remain a purely commercial market, but I don’t have a dog in the race. I’d prefer it remain pure commercial to serve as a case study proving that private space exploration is more cost effective, efficient, and productive. Let universities fund the science missions on suborbital launch.
Mike, where do you think the universities get the money from? But hey, it’s nice to know that you only need a single laundering of government funds to satisfy your twisted definition of “commercial”.
I dunno Trent. I think Universities should fund science missions. I also think the Dept of Ed should go into the dustbin of history before NASA. So, if I agree with Mike; does that mean I don’t understand, and more to the point disagree with, the notion that taxpayer dollars go into what are euphmistically called private universities?
Trent,
[[[where do you think the universities get the money from? ]]]
It depends. University research money comes from many sources. It may be from NASA. It may be NSF. A Congressional Earmark for the member’s local school. It may also be from private foundation, corporation, or even private donors. There are many sources of funding for science beyond NASA you know.
Actually if New Space Advocates feels Suborbital research funding is so important to the field they should follow the example of SETI and set up a foundation to fund it. Look at how much better SETI has done since its gone to private funding. Do you honestly think NASA would have ever funded the Paul Allen Array?
I imagine folks like Paul Allen and Richard Branson who believe strongly in suborbital space wouldn’t mind having a tax deductible foundation to donate funding to that would advance the use of reusable suborbital vehicles for research.
Really, its long pass time for New Space Advocates to think beyond NASA.
Really, its long pass time for New Space Advocates to think beyond NASA.
If you don’t think we’re thinking beyond NASA, and have always been, you are apparently clueless.
Rand,
[[[If you don’t think we’re thinking beyond NASA, and have always been, you are apparently clueless.]]]
Really? I have been following New Space since the old Alt Space days and all I hear New Space/Alt Space advocates talk about is the NASA budget, NASA spending and the need for NASA to fund New Space/Alt Space ventures. Any attempt to turn it in the direction of other agencies, like DARPA/USAF, new funding sources, new models, new agencies, is always met with silence… And then a return to how NASA needs to fund New Space.
Just look at how the X-Prize has turned in the various NASA “prizes” with zero effort by New Space to look beyond NASA money to fund new space prizes and the complaints from New Space Advocates when NASA doesn’t fund all the prizes New Spacers want.
all I hear New Space/Alt Space advocates talk about is the NASA budget, NASA spending and the need for NASA to fund New Space/Alt Space ventures. Any attempt to turn it in the direction of other agencies, like DARPA/USAF, new funding sources, new models, new agencies, is always met with silence…
Then you’ve been standing with your hands over your ears, saying “la…la…la…I can’t hear you.” Or talking to the wrong people. I don’t know a single New Space company that has restricted themselves to NASA contracts.
Rand,
Splitting hairs again? Sure they will take other money if someone offers it to them. But you wouldn’t know if from reading New Space advocates like yourself who talk about NASA funding and NASA budgets and the need to steer them towards New Space. Looking at all the policy alerts you think it will be the end of the world for subrobital New Space firms if the $15 million isn’t added it….
BUT again, there are far better models then NASA funding for New Space. Here is one.
http://www.rocketmavericks.com./
Suborbital flights for students, funded by Sony and Intel.
Yes, there is lots of NON-NASA money for ventures like this. Many of the Fortune 500 are looking for ways to boost STEM education. You could probably get the $15 from BP alone given how they are looking for good PR projects to counter the Gulf spill.
But I guess its just easier for New Space Advocates to lobby Congress to fund their “commercial ventures” then actually looking for real world customers.
It depends. University research money comes from many sources. It may be from NASA. It may be NSF. A Congressional Earmark for the member’s local school.
There’s a Congressional moratorium on earmarks.
It would be good if you learned how the process works, Tom, instead of just lecturing people how you think it works.
Any attempt to turn it in the direction of other agencies, like DARPA/USAF, new funding sources, new models, new agencies, is always met with silence…
AST would be very surprised to hear that, but you never let facts get in your way.
Perhaps I should remind you that the Bush Vision placed responsibility for space exploration within NASA, not DARPA or USAF. I don’t remember you ever criticizing Bush for that policy. Quite the contrary.
The only time you’re ideologically opposed to NASA funding is when you see some portion of the funding being used for something new and innovative, instead of building Apollo Redux.
Just look at how the X-Prize has turned in the various NASA “prizes” with zero effort by New Space to look beyond NASA money to fund new space prizes
Are you ignorant of the Google Lunar Prize, or just pretending?
Edward,
[[[AST would be very surprised to hear that, but you never let facts get in your way.]]]
AST funds suborbital research flights? What are you drinking?
[[[Perhaps I should remind you that the Bush Vision placed responsibility for space exploration]]]
The VSE was about suborbital research??? Well I guess that makes sense to someone selling flights to space in a used MIG 21.
Really Ed, get a clue.