Re: Second Guessing NASA VSE


"Derek Lyons" <fairwater@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:454ece58.1383054890@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Jeff Findley" <jeff.findley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The space news media is catching on to the fact that it's more than just
armchair engineers in the sci.space groups who are second guessing NASA's
plans for VSE.

No, it's armchair engineers outside of sci.space.*, not much of an
improvement.

I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to realize:

1. NASA designed and built the shuttle in such a way that makes it
expensive to maintain and fly.
2. The SRB's aren't a shining example of reliability and cost
effectiveness.
3. The current "shuttle derived" Ares I and V proposal coming out of NASA
doesn't contain much that's shuttle derived, except for the huge shuttle
launch infrastructure on the ground.
4. The US already has an overcapacity when it comes to launch vehicles
(i.e. the Delta IV and Atlas V merger is justified on these grounds).

All these beg the question, why let NASA design and build yet another NASA
specific launch vehicle?

It just does not make sense, armchair engineer or not.

Jeff
--
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a
little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor
safety"
- B. Franklin, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (1919)


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