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Privatising space research -- another insane folly. The private enterprises won't be any better at handling $20 billion rather than $2 million rocket projects than they are at handling infrastructure projects of similar size.

Interestingly, the Who Should Build Big Space Rockets, NASA or the Private Sector? poll at Space.com (even if non-scientific, not one I'd expect to be freeped) showed only 15% support for having NASA step aside, and 38% evedn want NASA to keep total control.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 at 04:56:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
That is my sense also.  But I am pleased to see that a small company can produce a rocket assembly that can perform as well as this lander did. Shows that there is still a good group of control system folks out there. This might be a good way to select component and sub-system suppliers or at least new design approaches. Even if NASA develops the rocket, it will be built by contractors.  And I have some doubts about a solid fuel only first stage.  But we don't know what, if anything, we will be doing, unless China looks to get there first. Then the question in the US would be "Who lost the Moon?!"  ;-/

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 at 05:15:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]
And I have some doubts about a solid fuel only first stage.

Yeah, Ares-I doesn't make much sense -- other than as a byproduct of going for Ares-IV/V, with its LOX core.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 at 05:35:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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