NASA FY 2012 Budget Request for NASA Updates

[Danny Dot]

Fascinating, the Senator is lobbying hard for Orion but has not mentioned SLS much if at all.

SLS is not in Texas. 

[Chris Bergin]

Again mentions SLS - saying it will be a SD HLV not a Constellation vehicle. Wowx2. Has he been sold on SLS now??

[northanger]

Bolden: No question: 130mt vehicle

excellent q&a right now with Senator Hutchison

[Chris Bergin]

Senator Hutchison is not asking about SLS, just Orion, yet General Bolden is is providing the SLS info. Hutchison totally missing an opportunity to press on SLS here.

General Bolden notes he is still not allowed to "cancel Constellation contracts".

Notes there may be some flexibility coming on that, however.

[robertross]

Wow, sounds like CR for FY2011 will include 'flexibility' for NASA to work around CxP action to not cancel. Comes out at midnight IIRC?

[Halidon]

Again mentions SLS - saying it will be a SD HLV not a Constellation vehicle. Wowx2. Has he been sold on SLS now??

I believe he was pointing out that the reference vehicle is currently SD-HLV, exactly what your most recent SLS articles have been saying.

[northanger]

Seems to me Senator Hutchison concern is modifying contracts and the key word I got from Mr Bolden is "negotiation".

[MATTBLAK]

Here we go with questions about HLV by 2016, notes the importance. Also asking about the 21st Century launch complex. Enough funding for the schedule for testing?

General Bolden:

A-3 Test Stand to be completed at Stennis.

Demoed AJ-24 at Stennis. Has potential for upgrade for a heavier vehicle past Taurus II, talks with Aerojet.

Oh well, no questions specific to HLV.

I reckon Bolden is dragging his heels over SLS. I'd even bet he is following orders by doing so.

[robertross]

Again mentions SLS - saying it will be a SD HLV not a Constellation vehicle. Wowx2. Has he been sold on SLS now??

I think they (NASA) are stalling, but that's conjecture on my part. Bolden mentioned contract about Orion, but NOTHING on the launch vehicle.

[Chris Bergin]

Nods, Halidon. I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Was just surprised to hear General Bolden say it as if he's happy about that

Back to Orbiter Retirement homes.

Senator Hutchison fighting for Houston it would seem.

[Ronsmytheiii]

really pressing over the orbiter disposition at retirement

[northanger]

Mr. Bolden noted during that last interchange that older contracts could be more expensive. Something that needs careful study and negotiation.

And lawyers

[Halidon]

Yes, Senator, but it's also important that the rest of the country have access to the space program lest they lose interest in it. Houston has a Saturn lying on its side, KSC is still a functioning space launch center. I think they'll be quite Ok if one or both lacks a Shuttle as well.

[Longhorn John]

Again mentions SLS - saying it will be a SD HLV not a Constellation vehicle. Wowx2. Has he been sold on SLS now??

I think they (NASA) are stalling, but that's conjecture on my part. Bolden mentioned contract about Orion, but NOTHING on the launch vehicle.

Eh? You missed everything about it being SD. Will be evolvable. Will eventually be 130mt. He spoke lots about SLS. He just wasn't asked about it.

Your post say "Nothing on the launch vehicles" which is not accurate. Re-watch the video afterwards, you missed a chunk.

[MATTBLAK]

Senator Hutchison asking about contract modifications, fears things are being dragged out.

General Bolden: Orion may not need a contract modification. It's a BEO vehicle. But got to get costs down, descope the vehicle in some manner.

I would have thought eliminating it's launch vehicle was about as 'descoped' as you could get without actually killing it altogether!

[northanger]

GO Senator Mikulski! Clear things up please. I do think there's some confusion about process. People just need their concerns addressed so we can all move forward.

[Chris Bergin]

Apparently NASA is on the high risk list for GAO because of their cost rises.

Should we be moving away from plus-costs contracts. A New World Order on contracting.

General Bolden doesn't think NASA will ever be off the high risk list because of what they do. Lists get-wells.

Got to say, he's been impressive so far today!

[northanger]

Senator Mikulski: How do you get off the GAO risk list? And is there a new world order on contracting (cost plus to fixed price)?

Mr. Bolden: Doubt we will ever get off that list, what we do is one of a kind.

[robertross]

Again mentions SLS - saying it will be a SD HLV not a Constellation vehicle. Wowx2. Has he been sold on SLS now??

I think they (NASA) are stalling, but that's conjecture on my part. Bolden mentioned contract about Orion, but NOTHING on the launch vehicle.

Eh? You missed everything about it being SD. Will be evolvable. Will eventually be 130mt. He spoke lots about SLS. He just wasn't asked about it.

Your post say "Nothing on the launch vehicles" which is not accurate. Re-watch the video afterwards, you missed a chunk.

No, I didn't miss anything.

Bolden said (paraphrased): 'We haven't done anything on the reference vehicle, because we weren't sure what exactly you wanted. We're using the (70mt-130mt) as the reference vehicle baseline, but that could change.'

At least something to that affect. To me, they (NASA) are waiting for the 3 RAC team reports to come out to convince congress that there is a better way.

(As an aside, and somthing I've been chewing on, is IF during that one-on-one between Obama & Musk at KSC, that Musk didn't exchange words about FH and how it can meet their needs, he just needed more time. Then Obama presents 'his' commercial budget with technology development, but congress had other ideas)

[northanger]

Mr Bolden: We will descope what does not meet the smell test.

To the greatest extent possible, benefiting the government: fixed price. But not always prudent. Cost plus might get us through unknowns during development.