Flip Flopping by Nelson on COTS-D?

We're not going to become a space fairing nation until transportation is off the shelf. COTS-D is absolutely a step in the right direction and NASA should be forced to embrace it.

It's hard to develop the hardware necessary to provide the NASA a commercial service when everyone knows that NASA is working on their own hardware which could also do the job. What investor wants to compete against the government, especially when politicians like Nelson are making public statements like this?

Hmmm... Nelson not necessarily supporting COTS-D? Could it be that COTS-D would be doing the the same job that as an Obama administration Orion CEV. Does Sen. Nelson know something we don't?

With lunar plans on the shelf, ferrying crews to the ISS would become America's defacto human spaceflight program. Obviously, NASA would not want to "contract out" that.

COTS-D only works if NASA has someplace else to go other than LEO.

outstanding, Senator

lets not keep America going into Space, lets build a launch pad in Florida. I hope there is an end to this thought process.

Nelson wrote: "NASA did not obey the law."

If this is true, then I feel that some type of congressional action should be taken against NASA.

Hopefully after Mr. Bolden takes his position as administrator, this $150 million can be used as originally intended.

Nelson wrote: "...COTS D first off is a human-rated program and that has not been sanctioned by NASA yet."

What is NASA waiting for? Soon our country will lose its ability to send people to space and yet we drag our feet in funding COTS D.

I'm beginning to wonder if our country really want a vibrant manned space program, or if all we really want is a jobs program.

"Sick of the politics at May 29, 2009 11:41 AM" Said....

"I'm beginning to wonder if our country really want a vibrant manned space program, or if all we really want is a jobs program."

Ding!!! Ding!!! Ding!!! Ding!!! Yes that's right it's a jobs program! And for getting todays question right our contestant gets a nice multi-billion dollar SYMBOL of American Greatness (tm) to admire as it sits on the pad and sometimes even flies. Someday at least.