Propellant Depots Instead of Heavy Lift?, opinion, By Michael D. Griffin and Scott Pace, Space News “The most reasonable claim made in support of fuel depots is that if they are employed to the exclusion of a heavy lifter, one saves the cost of building the heavy lifter. This is certainly true — but then we do not have a heavy lifter!” Keith’s note: Hilarious. Griffin and Pace cannot see […]

NASA Is Considering Fuel Depots in the Skies, NY Times “Although General Bolden promised to provide the information, [Rep. Dana] Rohrabacher said he had obtained the study about propellant depots only through unofficial channels. “I’m shocked that the leadership in NASA would try to keep a report as significant as this away from decision makers of the legislative branch,” Mr. Rohrabacher said, adding that the study gave him “the ammunition […]

NASA Solicitation: Space Launch System Stages Acquisition “NASA has selected a launch vehicle architecture that includes a large cryogenic (LOX/LH2) Core Stage, an Upper Stage when needed for higher performance missions, high thrust Boosters (initially, using those developed for the Ares I vehicle) for liftoff thrust, using either 3, 4, or 5 RS-25 engines on Core Stage, and using 1, 2, or 3 J-2X engines on Upper Stage. While the […]

Space Launch System Acquisition Overview “The SLS vehicle procurements will be structured to meet the Agency’s requirement for an affordable and evolvable vehicle within a schedule that supports various mission requirements. Procurements will include utilization of existing assets to expedite development, as well as further development of technologies and future competitions for advanced systems and key technology areas specific to SLS evolved vehicle needs. Detailed synopses will be issued in […]

NASA’s New Space Launch System Announced – Destination TBD, SpaceRef “Late last night and early this morning NASA, Congress, the White House – and the media – were all a buzz with the sudden announcement – that there would be an “announcement”. After months of subpoenas, contentious hearings, foot dragging, posturing, leaks, and press conferences, NASA, White House, and Congress had finally come to an agreement as to what the […]

NASA Administrator Message: NASA Announce Design for New Deep Space Exploration System “Today is a big day at NASA. The next chapter of America’s space exploration story is being written, right here, right now. We’ve selected the design for a new space exploration system that will take humans far beyond Earth. This important decision will create high-quality jobs here at home and provide the cornerstone for America’s future human space […]

Sen. Hutchison, Sen. Nelson Issue Statement on Campaign to Undermine America’s Manned Space Program “Rather than announce these results and move forward with development, the administration’s budget office has kept the independent cost report under wraps. Instead, a wildly inflated set of NASA cost numbers was invented, based on an imaginary “acceleration” of SLS development. Under these contrived numbers, which were leaked in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, development costs were […]

Rocket man: Richard Shelby pushes NASA funds, Politico “Republican Sen. Richard Shelby has been one of Barack Obama’s most persistent critics, accusing the president of putting the country on a road to financial ruin with deficits as far as the eye can see. But his demands to slash government programs tend to stop at the Alabama state line. Here in his home state, Shelby has been pressuring the Obama administration […]

White House Experiences Sticker Shock Over NASA’s Plans, WS Journal “An Aug. 19 budget analysis prepared by NASA managers, a copy of which was obtained by The Wall Street Journal, illustrates the sticker shock associated with NASA’s drive to push U.S. manned flights beyond the orbiting international space station. … Based on priorities already adopted by Congress–then adjusting for projected inflation and accelerated development efforts–the document indicates it could cost […]

Florida senators dispute Sen. Richard Shelby’s criticism of spending at Kennedy Space Center, Huntsville Times “Florida’s senators share the frustration. So do Texas Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and more than a few House representatives. They’ve all pressed NASA and the White House this year to get started on SLS. But the Shelby/Sessions letter went further and accused NASA of wrongly shifting some $341 million to Kennedy Space Center in […]