Save Constellation Effort Losing Steam?

Not sure what to make of this, if anything.

Might it be a sign of acceptance that Constellation is beyond hope, or could it be a shift in focus towards extending shuttle and moving in the direction Keith laid out a few days ago in his article?

The answer to that is above my paygrade.

"Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna, said she is eagerly awaiting the president's visit, but said she is not totally on board with the president's vision for NASA."

I may be a burned out old cynic, but when any politician makes a comment like that my first thought is they are not sure which side of the fence they want to stand on.

In this case is it with President Obama or her constituents?

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is very happy to be getting part of the billions for new kerosene engine development.

I'm trying to figure out why the Kosmas article is linked to this topic. The article doesn't say anything remotely close to abandoning Constellation. All it really says is she didn't like Obama's plan. It's actually a very vague article. Most of Congress wanted either shuttle or constellation or both. She's saying she hopes the President will do some of what Congress wants.

Somehow that is seen as no longer trying to save Constellation? Uh, okay.

No slant on that story at all.

On the one hand, Bolden is grilled by lawmakers who are dumbfounded by Obama's lack of direction for Nasa. And criticizing any of the very few specifics that are known about the Constellation cut. It's criticized for everything from irrational space policy to cutting high tech jobs. People are waiting for Obama's space summit on the 15th, but he's got a lot of very skeptical lawmakers who have questions they want answered.

And on the other hand we have PWR lobbyists who have stopped lobbying and a Constellation blurb that's left out of a press packet.

Conclusion? Save Constellation effort is losing steam? LOL Well the answer is no.

I think PWR sees the handwriting on the wall for Ares and is abandoning ship. Orion lite will likely be part of the nex world order.

Gosh, no surprise PWR doing this. Quite frankly, it's gonna be less painful for folks in Constellation to just ACCEPT their fate. Our space programs' new course has already been set and it's in the best interest of our Nation, not just the space community, to see that it is successful!

It appeared to me that people were supporting Constellation because of its payoff to their sector, not because of its space-faring merits or destinations. Their response now appears to be seeking whatever pieces they can pick up, or initiate through compromise.

It also appeared to me that there was more concern about dependence on foreigners for our space travel, than on giving up on a manned lunar capability.

I think PWR sees the handwriting on the wall for Ares and is abandoning ship. Orion lite will likely be part of the nex world order.

How does that benefit PWR? They don't have much in Orion.

It's obvious they're just hedging their bets waiting to see who's in the White House come Jan. 2013 and, at the same time, continue receiving NASA funding for other projects.

If there's a new Administration I've no doubt we'll have another Commission to evaluate, again, the direction of the space program and steer it back to some variant of CxP.

In any case, my bet is:

(1) We'll see Orion alightened (with minimal mods) so it can be launched on a single core EELV also with minimal mods.

(2) Focus on an inline HLV with 4 engines (i.e. Ares IV) to launch either ISS modules or EOR for BEO.

(3) Once/if Space-X and Orbital prove their cases then we can have them compete with ULA for both LEO HSF and commercial/government satellites, and let the best one (maybe two) win.

Orion Lite (or whatever crew vehicle eventually emerges) will need to launch on top of something. As Ares has died a death, that means:

1) Initially a US clone of RD-180 (built by PWR);

2) Ultimately an all-US kerolox core engine (designed and built by PWR).

Here is the news people, Pratt & Whitney Rocketyne has NEVER lobbied to saved Constellation. From the beginning PWR knew that they did not had the political power nor financial weight to impact any decision (ask any California legislator and they will have no idea of rocket engines being developed in California). They also know that whatever architecture is chosen for human space exploration, it would almost certainly involve PWR engines. The real danger to PWR is that human space exploration remains as paper studies and R&D, which is very much what the current NASA vision is, hence their instance that the new plan include a development program, a clear destination and time-lime. The other danger to PWR, which is the same for NASA, is a major gap in being awarded a contract. With both Constellation and the Space Shuttle terminated, maintaining their workforce would be impossible and with it their experience and expertise. The Department of Defense has stated this concern due to PWR's involvement with military engines and ULA.