Author Topic: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority  (Read 56399 times)

Online Chris Bergin

Never clever to write in the middle of the night inbetween sleeps, but hopefully this ties in some of our content on the Lunar and Mars missions with some key lines from the House Authorization Act draft....

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/nasa-act-pushes-moon-mars-priority/

Here's the 80 page draft I was kindly sent, by the way:
« Last Edit: 06/19/2013 05:10 am by Chris Bergin »
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Offline scienceguy

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #1 on: 06/19/2013 05:18 am »
Wow. Cool article! You mean they actually have a destination?
e^(pi*i) = -1

Offline woods170

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #2 on: 06/19/2013 06:31 am »
Wow. Cool article! You mean they actually have a destination?
Chris: very well written article, as always.

@Scienceguy:
They have a whole lot of destinations. Go to Mars, via lunar orbit, lunar surface, cis-lunar, Lagrange points, Mars moons and then finally the surface of Mars itself.
This is even worse than the non-plan Obama came up with.
NASA will need multiple landers, deep space habitats and the likes, even more so than what Obama proposed. And naturally, the funds needed for all that stuff will never be appropriated by US Congress. That unidentified administration official is correct: this draft authorization act "is a non-starter".
The plan from the Obama administration is not getting us anywhere, but this latest draft from the House is really rediculous.
« Last Edit: 06/19/2013 06:34 am by woods170 »

Offline spectre9

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #3 on: 06/19/2013 07:11 am »
SLS has always been a moon rocket.

It was naive to believe otherwise.

Getting an administrator that didn't want to repeat Apollo like everybody else at NASA was a master stroke by Obama, gotta hand that one to him.

Being able to stop NASA from doing CxP lite? Impossible. Tried and failed.

I'll settle for Lunar surface exploration. A man hasn't landed on the moon during my lifetime and I'd like to live to see the first woman.

I hope a new moon program is embraced and isn't bloated by things like Ares 1/V and Altair. SLS with a simple 2 man lander is enough to get the job done.


Offline Proponent

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #4 on: 06/19/2013 08:58 am »
I wonder whether the House might be cajoled into formally explaining the basis for the "finding" in Title II, Sec. 203:

"(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that the Space Launch System is the most practical approach to reaching the Moon, Mars, and beyond, and reaffirms the policy and minimum capability requirements contained in such section."

Offline john smith 19

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #5 on: 06/19/2013 09:35 am »
I wonder whether the House might be cajoled into formally explaining the basis for the "finding" in Title II, Sec. 203:

"(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that the Space Launch System is the most practical approach to reaching the Moon, Mars, and beyond, and reaffirms the policy and minimum capability requirements contained in such section."
Now that would be interesting.  :)

But let's remember Congress Authorizes all kinds of stuff.

If there's no money in the Appropriations act it's meaningless.  :(
« Last Edit: 06/19/2013 09:37 am by john smith 19 »
MCT ITS BFR SS. The worlds first Methane fueled FFSC engined CFRP SS structure A380 sized aerospaceplane tail sitter capable of Earth & Mars atmospheric flight.First flight to Mars by end of 2022 TBC. T&C apply. Trust nothing. Run your own #s "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" R. Simberg."Competitve" means cheaper ¬cheap SCramjet proposed 1956. First +ve thrust 2004. US R&D spend to date > $10Bn. #deployed designs. Zero.

Offline R7

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #6 on: 06/19/2013 11:11 am »
Never clever to write in the middle of the night inbetween sleeps

..but you know you're a space geek extraordinaire when you do that  ;D the rest of us just turn cheek and continue dreaming Skylons. Good stuff, as always.

I guess the predicament is

1. do manned exploration on Moon in 2020s
2. do manned exploration on Mars in 2030s
3. have enough funds to do it

and NASA gets to pick only two options.
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Offline Rocket Science

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #7 on: 06/19/2013 11:31 am »
Nice article Chris, I’m always interested in the latest kabuki dance craze on Capitol Hill. :) I’m still reminded of that line from a film “show me the money”...  ;D
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Offline psloss

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #8 on: 06/19/2013 11:37 am »
Here's the 80 page draft I was kindly sent, by the way:
Thanks. (/unlurk)

Online Chris Bergin

Thanks guys. Glad it came across well enough!
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Offline JohnFornaro

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #10 on: 06/19/2013 01:09 pm »
Well, the headline says it all, in my opinion, and I quite approve of the principle.

With the "minimum maximum" throw weight of 130 tons, according to the few people I've talked to, SLS should be able to build a lunar base in twenty ton chunks.  An L1 ring station could be built in significantly larger chunks.

It's clearly true that it matters little whether you start the journey of a thousand miles with the left foot or the right foot.

Therefore, in my opinion, it is of less importance which of these options is implemented first.  The "thousand mile" destination, Mars, will be more rapidly achieved by setting up two base camps to support the journey.

The key factor for success, and pretty much the only factor which will guarantee the success of an eventual martian base, is the continued intent of Congress to support that goal over the next three decades.

Without that long term intent, there is not likely to be much accomplishment along the lines of eventually establishing a martian base.  This would lend more credence to my conjecture that we are being incompetently kept on planet by our government.

Congress cannot force the aerospace industry and academicians to properly scope and cost the many missions needed to build a cislunar economy and martian base; these political constituencies will have to agree among themselves to cooperate in a larger vision.

I keep thinking that Congress and the President would reward success along the way to setting up a martian base, but again, success could only happen with a cooperative intention among the constituencies.

Now to read the article past the headline.
Sometimes I just flat out don't get it.

Offline JohnFornaro

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #11 on: 06/19/2013 01:24 pm »
Nice article.

I'm beginning to come around to the idea of a manned Phobos mission, as a precursor to a manned orbital mission to its nearby planet, in order to finally determine whether or not Mars has current life.
Sometimes I just flat out don't get it.

Online Chris Bergin

So I assume there's going to be a hearing that's webcasted today? Everyone keep an eye on it, as I'm in and out all day.
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Offline yg1968

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #13 on: 06/19/2013 01:45 pm »
Here's the 80 page draft I was kindly sent, by the way:

Thanks for the copy of the bill. Nobody else has posted it yet.
« Last Edit: 06/19/2013 01:54 pm by yg1968 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #14 on: 06/19/2013 01:47 pm »
So I assume there's going to be a hearing that's webcasted today? Everyone keep an eye on it, as I'm in and out all day.

Yes, it starts in 15 minutes. See this link:

http://science.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-space-hearing-nasa-authorization-act-2013

Offline yg1968

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #15 on: 06/19/2013 02:05 pm »
Hearing has just started.

Offline newpylong

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #16 on: 06/19/2013 02:10 pm »
Mr. Palazzo opening statement:

Must focus on core programs: SLS/Orion/ISS/JWST/Commercial Crew

Commercial Crew 700 million per year not blank check, deadlines need to be met. Must be back to ISS from US by 2017.

Asteroid mission not authorized.

Offline yg1968

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #17 on: 06/19/2013 02:12 pm »
Palazzo says that 2017 for commercial crew is not negotiable. NASA must find a way to get it done for 2017 even if it means overhauling the program.

Asteroid retrieval mission will not be funded in the bill and they will work with the appropriations to prevent any funding for it.
« Last Edit: 06/19/2013 02:13 pm by yg1968 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #18 on: 06/19/2013 02:16 pm »
Ms. Edwards says that the bill isn't bi-partisan. She wasn't happy with the Earth Science and the Technology program cuts.

Offline newpylong

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Re: NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
« Reply #19 on: 06/19/2013 02:18 pm »
Johnson says more tasks being asked of NASA with less funding. Also not happy with Earth Science cuts.
« Last Edit: 06/19/2013 02:18 pm by newpylong »

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