My opinion, when its all said and done about an HLV, seems a version of Jupiter/Direct/Ares V will be whats chosen, based on what Sen. Nelson has said, I'm betting he and Obama have worked this out to where they can claim everybody is happy -One more Shuttle flight in 2012, commercial for cargo first and maybe crew to ISS (If they can get certified), sped up HLV development using Shuttle Ares & Constellation workforce using Orion for BEO, which says in line SD HLV using 5 seg solids to wherever NASA would like to send astronauts-Moon/Asteroid/Mars, starting test flights in 2014, this way they will claim the gap was shrunk to 2 yrs all due to bipartisan working together, see isn't sausage making wonderful....again only my opinion, which isn't worth a poot.
I think the argument will continue until the whole HLV plan quietly dies (several years down the road): Once CST-100 on Atlas V or Dragon on F9 has sucessfully delivered the first US crew to ISS, the media will play this up to the hilt as "the USA is back in space", people will say "NASA's back in business" and "USA! USA!". Then, ISS will be extended to 2028 (a move marketed as keeping our international partners happy) and HLV will be pushed down the line (as a post-ISS project), probably via another 5-year study on breakthroughs.
If NASA sticks with the LEO taxi / Orion CRV plan, I wonder whether the initial SDHLV might be a J-120 instead of J-130.
Quote from: MP99 on 07/05/2010 02:36 pmIf NASA sticks with the LEO taxi / Orion CRV plan, I wonder whether the initial SDHLV might be a J-120 instead of J-130.I'm pretty sure that SDLV will be a cargo-only booster if the commercial crew taxi remains the primary crew launch strategy. Mission vehicles will launch uncrewed and the crew will be sent up later.
We need leadership with vision. I don't see any in the near future. Leadership by committee is what we have now. A camel is a horse designed by committee. No one is in charge of anything who has executive experience right now. From the white house on down. Leadership will supply a vision and choose a path to follow. This has not been done.
Quote from: spacenut on 07/07/2010 03:04 pmWe need leadership with vision. I don't see any in the near future. Leadership by committee is what we have now. A camel is a horse designed by committee. No one is in charge of anything who has executive experience right now. From the white house on down. Leadership will supply a vision and choose a path to follow. This has not been done. You're pushing a minority viewpoint which was proven incorrect. Instead of trying to re-fight old fights, focus on the today, the here and now, and figure out a solution instead.Did you realize that NASA is now organizing in-orbit fuel depot demonstration, with missions to the Moon and Mars utilizing them? Did you realize that there is more crew access potential under the new plan?Yes, I don't think the plan is a great one, but judging it on its merits, it's not gloom and doom by a long shot. Instead, I see a much more interesting program.
Quote from: spacenut on 07/07/2010 03:04 pmWe need leadership with vision. I don't see any in the near future. Leadership by committee is what we have now. A camel is a horse designed by committee. No one is in charge of anything who has executive experience right now. From the white house on down. Leadership will supply a vision and choose a path to follow. This has not been done. Why is "leadership" a panacea? Under Griffin, NASA had distinct leadership, from a leader with executive experience, who did not (purportedly) lead by committee, who was absolutely in charge, who supplied a vision, who chose a path to follow, and it was enforced on down. How'd that work out? -Alex
Under Griffin, NASA and its contractors were employed developing new rocket motors, rocket engines, launch vehicles, spacecraft, spacecraft escape and recovery systems, test stands, launch pads, factories, manufacturing processes, and ground support infrastructure.
... more is said than done.
Quote from: kkattula on 07/08/2010 10:13 am... more is said than done.And that has always been my concern....