SInce I covered the objections raised to Ares-1, I should throw in this reference, where NASA managers defense both the concept and the program as progressing well. They make some fair points about how all complex systems encounter challenges and involve differences of opinion between experts. That said, however...
COMMENT: They somehow seem to talk around the fact that original budgetary and schedule projections are not only long exceeded, but continue to to change as the program is replanned and new issues come up. Yes, every rocket has issues and problems, but we're ending up with massive expenditures for a rocket no more capable, and no more specifically suited to human flight, than commercial alternatives that could have been man-rated at a lower cost.
"If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road: and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man."
- C.S. Lewis
No comments:
Post a Comment