Clark Lindsey isn't impressed by Scott Horowitz' ability to ignore "outside noise:"

I guess this is an improvement over the deaf/mute NASA that produced the Space Shuttle, the ISS, X-33, X-34, SLI, OSP, etc. NASA leaders were then completely oblivious to the existence of any outside voices on space hardware development and never felt it necessary to address complaints from know-nothings (i.e. anyone not working at NASA). At least now they go to the window and before closing it they yell at the peons outside to shut up and stop making a racket.

Don't forget SEI! NASA is still dealing with the massive repercussions of that debacle.

It's just a pity they cancelled the RS-84 and TR-107 programs though. Had they been made to work, one of them would have made a perfect 1st stage engine for Ares.

It is sad the depths that NASA has fallen to:

In the Apollo days you would be fired for not speaking up about a problem. Today the opposite is true. From my perch in the ether I get to see all of the meetings going on. There are several show stoppers for the stick that will guarantee that to fix them the taxpayer will end up with the shaft.

How *dare* anyone at NASA use snippy language against bloggers and other complainers who accuse them of fraud, incompetance, stupidty and various and sundry other personal failings!

I'm shocked, SHOCKED that anyone would pen a few lines in their own defense!!!!

> It is sad the depths that NASA has fallen to:

> In the Apollo days you would be fired for not speaking up about a problem.

Have you forgotten about Apollo 1, oh ghost of Tom Paine?

When Scott Crossfield tried to warn NASA about the Apollo fire hazard, he was told to shut up and go away. Later, when he wanted to apply to the astronaut program, he was told he wasn't welcome -- because he had been right.

NO ONE was fired for ignoring Scott Crossfield. The only person punished was the man who spoke up.

Lindsay is upset by the "tone" of the response. But wasn't he one of the people who was spreading the rumor that the Stick was underperforming? Rather than attacking the "tone," maybe he should back up his original allegations with proof. So far all we've had are bloggers quoting other bloggers quoting other bloggers. Repetition isn't proof.