As one of the few remaining moon walkers, I admire him, which is why it saddens me to see him regurgitating pro-SLS propaganda. I’m in the last throes of a proposal, or I’d take it apart, but maybe someone else will.
4 thoughts on “Jack Schmitt”
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my my my, look what I found at that politico story comments section…
Ethan Brossard
I had the chance to talk to some of politico’s editors a few weeks ago, and when I asked about politico space, I was told that politico would not let Boeing’s sponsorship affect what content they posted, after reading this, I’m afraid to say I’m disappointed.
The Apollo Cargo Cult really does die hard with the Apollo astronauts, even the scientist ones. (The Apollo Cargo cult only worships at the altar of single launch missions, which apparently is an unalterable dogma of the faith.)
In fairness, though, it’s probably hard to change the mind of any octogenarian.
Two of the worst howlers:
1.”Assuming a fully expendable Falcon Heavy launch costs $150-200M, the total comparative price of carrying infrastructure to deep space would be $600M to $1.2BM for 4-6 Falcon Heavy launches compared to $500-$1,000M for a SLS Block 1B launch.”
Jack Schmitt is kidding himself if he thinks a Block IB (which he almost certainly won’t even live to see launch in 2025!) will only cost $500-$1,000 milllion to launch, even exclusive of development costs, which have been staggering.
2. “With regard to carrying human beings into deep space for extended missions, as it stands now SLS is the only vehicle capable of meeting inherent mission requirements.”
Mission requirements which were written solely with SLS in mind!
Here is news that Terry Virts (Col. USAF; Pilot for STS-130 in 2010; Flight Engineer then ISS Commander for Expeditions 42/43 in 2014-2015) spoke out against the LOP-G during yesterday’s National Space Council meeting.
Assuming a fully expendable Falcon Heavy launch costs $150-200M, the total comparative price of carrying infrastructure to deep space would be $600M to $1.2BM for 4-6 Falcon Heavy launches compared to $500-$1,000M for a SLS Block 1B launch. The SLS approach is similarly priced but less risky, as there is a significant increase in logistics and risk when a mission requires 100 percent success of 4-6 launches versus a single launch.
So we should put all our eggs in one basket, because it’s a big pretty government basket.
REALLY