Gordon's Attempt To Shove HR 5781 Through Flops

It is now clear that the only goal on which we can get coherent and coordinated bipartisan cooperation in congress is the prevention of pork being taken away from them.

Disgusting.

Good,
It is about time the Most Populous state with the most NASA centers and productive work in research & technology has a say. I'm very sure Oh, MD, VA have the same feeling after the CxP revolution on steroids.

http://www.nasa.gov/about/sites/index.html
Matter of fact only three centers are in Alabama, Florida and Texas. This is what NASA needs a balanced mix not a steroid addiction on one program.

Like beauty, pork is in the eye of the beholder.

BS.

Just like beauty, sometimes pretty is just pretty and ugly is just ugly.

The case of SpaceX vs. Ares-I development is a clear cut case of one beauty and one beast.

The politicians are indeed blind to Beauty as well as to truth - the CA reps are in favor of SpaceX not because it is such a kick-ass development effort but because it is in their back yard - granted.

But that does not change the poor track-record of Ares so far, the over-achievements of SpaceX, and their potential.

Anyone asking to reduce funding for COTS at this point does not have the good of the space program in mind.

I asked the Astronaut (Leland Melvin) at the AIAA Propulsion conference, who had the difficult job of explaining what HQ wanted, if he would ride on a rocket designed by congress.
I did not expect an answer but personally, I would rather live in a nation run by rocket scientists than ride on a rocket designed by congress.

Steve
Flometrics

For America's future in space, KILL THE DAMN BILL.

This is the BEST thing the Senate has done for the Man Space Program in a long time. I beleive they will be using the Direct Launcher because it uses Shuttle Parts. It will close the gap. SpaceX should still have funding for their taxi but they should not have the whole ball of wax and we should not depend on the Russians. From the great words of Obama "Share the Wealth." Everything can't all be giving to the Democrate Party in Calif where SPACEX is built. America's Best Choice is to use the Direct-launcher. We know the parts work and the workforce can support it.

http://www.launchcomplexmodels.com/Direct/

Sure, Frank. Kill the bill and continue with a CR for the next few months. Uncertainty is good. And, for now, it has the same effect as passing the bill. Don't you just love the irony?

> I beleive they will be using the Direct Launcher because it uses Shuttle Parts. It will close the gap. SpaceX should still have funding for their taxi but they should not have the whole ball of wax and we should not depend on the Russians.

You need to get your story straight.

Depending on Russia is the plan. They aren't a crutch. They are part of the team.

And the SDLV is planned to be for lifting heavy cargo, not people, so it won't close the gap.

Which version of the NASA authorization bill should be killed, Senate or House? I think the Senate's version is the better version. SpaceX, from what little I have seen, is trying to protect funding, like any other government contractor .

The Senate bill is better. It's the best compromise between Obama's budget and the status quo. It preserves commercial crew and cargo, but doesn't rely too heavily on it alone. It develops a heavy lift rocket capable of crew or cargo. The House version is basically Constellation 2.0. Apollo on vitamins.

I say kill or modify the House bill. It cuts too deeply into commercial crew AND advanced tech demos. Senate much better and a basis for a full compromise.

"SpaceX, from what little I have seen, is trying to protect funding, like any other government contractor"

Is that the new line? that they are "just as bad as the rest of us"?

Nowhere in COTS does it say "SpaceX". It does insinuate, however, dirty words like "fixed cost", "bid", "compete", and "market".

SpaceX should not be working so hard to protect COTS. Any normal buyer that actually cares about his money would be only happy to have a bidder like SpaceX.