Re: NASA Space Shuttle - The Real Problem
- From: Andy Resnick <andy.resnick@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 02 Aug 2005 09:21:22 -0400
Morpheal wrote:
The real problem in regards to the Space Shuttle program at NASA seems to have been ignored. Let's look again. What do we see ?
We see technology that is, for the most part, more than 30 years old.
So? How old is the technology for your car engine? For your microwave? Refridgerator? Air conditioner?
The first shuttle flew a crew into space nearly 25 years ago.
How old are the planes you fly on? Ships? Trains? Construction equipment? The issue is not the age of the thing, but the required maintenance.
The design is more than a quarter of a century old.
The design has become a patchjob, fixed up, during that time period. It does not incorporate more than 30 years of scientific and engineering discoveries.
At some point in the development and construction of any large item, further technological improvements must necessarily be ignored. Otherwise nothing would get built. How soon before your computer is obsolete?
The real problem isn't that NASA lacks technological wizardry- when I worked there, I had incredible access to anyone and anything. Everyone, and I mean everyone, returned my calls. The only one who never did was a French Nobel Laureate who shall go unnamed. Companies salivate at the idea of being able to promote a tie-in to NASA. Academics were always willing to provide advice. The astronauts are in general brilliant and know they are lucky to be doing the job that nearly every 8-year old on the planet daydreamed about. The technicians- machinists and electrical techs- are among the best on the planet, no question.
The problem is that NASA is increasingly a political animal. And the results speak for themselves. I was lucky to get out when I did. I'm not so much bitter about it as disappointed, like seeing a bright, promising young talented individual make poor life choices.
<snip remainder> -- Andrew Resnick, Ph.D. Department of Physiology and Biophysics Case Western Reserve University .
- Follow-Ups:
- Re: NASA Space Shuttle - The Real Problem
- From: G=EMC^2 Glazier
- Re: NASA Space Shuttle - The Real Problem
- References:
- NASA Space Shuttle - The Real Problem
- From: Morpheal
- NASA Space Shuttle - The Real Problem
- Prev by Date: Re: EP and acceleration
- Next by Date: Cosmic rays may prevent long-haul space travel
- Previous by thread: Re: NASA Space Shuttle - The Real Problem
- Next by thread: Re: NASA Space Shuttle - The Real Problem
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
