Space Shuttle again, doing what it does best

[Dont Hurt Me]

Just thought i would mention, looks like shuttle woes continue. It may be pushed back again. More problems with the tank & wiring. There is no way shuttle will get the 18 flights off by 2010. It wont happen, I would say 4 or 5 missions at best. Very Best. We still need something to replace chemicals, its the only way we are going to get to the planets and back and do it before our bones turn to jelly. Chemicals are a waste except for orbit and maybe the moon, its time for a space ship that we can park at the ISS. the CEV is still apollo again.

 

[sushi]

Their using Apollo era life support systems? Thats just plain stupid. You mean to tell me that there will be better oxygen scrubbers in deep sea submersibles than in space!!!
<sarcasm>Woo I love government research</end sarcasm>

NASA as a government organization must also subcontract to the lowest bidder.

This is a completely stupid rule. While it sounds good on paper and is ideally a good system, in reality the lowest bidder system hampers government organizations. It also adds a huge amount of complexity and bureaucratic inefficiencies to the process.

NASA engineers are not stupid. Unfortunately, many times they are hampered by bureaucratic processes that are completely out of their control.

 

[Kingsly]

NASA engineers are not stupid. Unfortunately, many times they are hampered by bureaucratic processes that are completely out of their control.

Exactly.