Here's how our government works in one area of science.
On the one hand, they're giving contracts to private firms to provide services regarding cargo and, eventually, people to and from the International Space Station. SpaceX is way out in the lead on this. In February, their Dragon capsule - the ONLY privately developed space capsule to ever go into orbit and be recovered after re-entry - will undergo another test that will most likely include docking with the ISS and delivering supplies.
They (SpaceX) got a contract to upgrade the Dragon to become man-rated so it can carry astronauts. ...and they're not the only contract winner (Orbital Sciences and others are also in on these contracts)
MEANWHILE - Congress has decided on welfare for the aerospace industry. NASA's Orion capsule was originally part of the "Constellation" project. This was a whole series of new rockets that would return us to space post-Shuttle. Most of it has been cancelled. The Ares I-X flew and incomplete version of the rocket ONCE. Everything was tossed out basically because of the incredible cost overruns and delays that were happening with the project. SpaceX (started by PayPal founder Elon Musk who also started Tesla Motors), meanwhile, was able to design, develop, build, test and successfully launch COMPLETELY new rocket systems for pennies on the dollar while NASA's partners contemplated their navels.
So now we get this press release from NASA:
Quote:
NASA DECIDES ARCHITECTURE FOR FUTURE HUMAN DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION
NASA reached several milestones in developing a new U.S. space
transportation system that will serve as the cornerstone for
America's future human space exploration efforts. The first decision
came in late May, when NASA Administrator Bolden selected the Orion
Crew Exploration Vehicle as the spacecraft that would take astronauts
beyond low Earth orbit. In addition to exceeding the requirements
necessary for deep space travel, it was consistent with the NASA
Authorization Act of 2010 to retain as much of the current workforce
and its critical skills as possible. In September, Bolden announced
the design of a new Space Launch System -- a heavy-lift rocket that
will take our astronauts farther into space than ever before, create
high-quality jobs here at home, and provide the cornerstone for
America's future human space exploration efforts.
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This is despite Elon Musk announcing the Falcon-9 Heavy which will deliver cargo to space for so little money, even the Chinese are wondering how he can do it.
Make no mistake - I am a HUGE fan of NASA and have been since the days of Gemini and Apollo. But I'm NOT a fan of the entrenched beauracracy. Did you catch the line in the press release - that the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 has a mandate in it to keep jobs (as opposed to producing results).