NASA's New Deep Space Exploration System 2

[lacajun]

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/sls1.html

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I too saw the article and it is fascinating. Don't hold your breath knowing how some of these bureaucratic things work.

Look to Virgin or Rutan for some really exciting things!!

 

[KllrWolf]

I am happy to see NASA being involved in this and they will be reusing the previously aborted program. However I do agree with Mike about the bureaucrats. SpaceX will probably have their Falcon Heavy carrying cargo before the first offical engineering work gets (re)started.

 

[lacajun]

MiketheEngineer, I agree with you. Also, given our debt it will be interesting to see if we can pull it off or it gets cut. If I remember right, NASA's budget has been cut before.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[cranky108]

Strange how NASA and Amtrack seem to always have an oposite fate. When one is up in funding the other is down.

Both should be done by privite industry, but both require heavy capital that most companies don't have the backing for.

Also both don't make any profit.

 

[Comcokid]

It'll end up like the shuttle:
1) Start with a design and set of specifications, a delivery date, and a projected cost.
2) Congress will cut the budget every year.
3) The scientist and engineers will adapt by changing the design to meet the budget. But the design will be in constant change because the budget will be in constant decline.
4) In the end, the system will not meet the original design purpose, nor specifications, will not be ready by the intended date, and will exceed the original projected cost because the design was in constant redesign chasing an inadequate yearly budget.
5) Capable or innovative personnel will become frustrated and leave, and the project staff will change until it's largely bureaucratic because they aren't bothered by a lack of progress.

 

[JohnRBaker]

Strange how NASA and Amtrack seem to always have an oposite fate. When one is up in funding the other is down.

Perhaps it's something as simple as 'ridership' ;-)

As for making a profit on rail transportation, I'll bet that the Shinkansen (bullet trains) in Japan, or the TGV in France, or the ICE system in Germany are not 'profitable', at least not in the sense that America has come to believe needs to be the case before something is worth investing in.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[MintJulep]

Well, the Shinkansen system in Japan had the advantage of government investment in the track system initially.

However JR (Japan Rail) now receive no (direct) government subsidies, and operate profitably as private companies. Not just the high speed rail, but commuter and local operations as well.

The difference between the US and Japan in regards to rail is that In Japan you can actually get where you want to go when you want to get there by taking the train.

 

[SomptingGuy]

It's odd and sad that America was pioneered by rail. Maybe one day I'll do the USA rail holiday thing before it's all gone.

- Steve

 

[rconnor]

I was really excited to see this in the paper the other day. Regardless of whether some of the above posts are right and the budget cuts deteriorate the program, just having a space exploration program is important for a lot of reasons.

A space exploration program acts as a beacon of awe and inspiration for young people to encourage them to pursue a science orientated career. It is a popular scientific endeavor and one that is easy to appreciate its accomplishments for the average populous, unlike something like the LHC which people who are not scientifically inclined think is just a billion dollar dooms day machine. There is both a nationalistic and humanistic pride and satisfaction that exudes from space programs, which brings people together.

To me, the symbolism of the space program is equally important than its physical and scientific accomplishments. That is why I thought it was such a dark day when they cancelled the space program; it felt like it was the beginning of the war on science and progress to "help" cut costs and get the US (and by extension the rest of us) out of the recession.

I actually find it interesting that there was such a short time between cancelling the space shuttle program and announcing the new one. You had people like Neil DeGrasse Tyson that were all up in arms when they announced canceling the shuttle program but it must have been the plan all along, unless that outcry from people forced their hand to announce it sooner than expected.

Either way, great news!

 

[csd72]

Good news.

Is it designed to run on biofuel?