Now that the CCtCAP awards have been awarded, even though they are now under protest, I think it's time for a new poll. We have hundreds of pages of people debating who is ahead in CC. Well the poll can be a very simple one.Which company will be the first to fly people to the ISS?1. Boeing.2. SpaceX3. SNC for those who think they will be successful in their protest.I know a similar poll created in the past, but I think it was removed, or at least I haven't been able to find it.
Here's a prediction: During the pause for the review of this award, SpaceX will continue to progress although the rate will be much slower. Boeing, on the other hand will set down tools and wait, costing them the lead that NASA reports they had going into the CCtCAP award. This is not Boeing hate. Boeing has stated explicitly that progress with CST-100 is tied to government funding. SpaceX have said that they'll proceed at their own pace using their own funding. If the government orders a stop, then Boeing will stop but no-one can stop Elon and his investors spending heir own money on Dragon v.2 and LC-39A if they choose to do so.
right now I personally believe the long pole is going to be integration from NASA. So even if the companies are making their own progress, they will continue to fall behind on the schedule just because NASA CCP and ISS can't work with them.
If not Boeing hate it clearly still shows a very strong anti-Boeing bias.
I believe Gerst did what he thought was best for NASA.
Quote from: rcoppola on 10/05/2014 10:06 pmI believe Gerst did what he thought was best for NASA. I do not doubt that he did that. The open question is "did he stick to the selection criteria", and "will the GAO agree"?
NASA just sent out return to work orders . . . .
An agency may override the automatic stay initiated by a GAO protest by issuing a determination that there are compelling reasons not to wait for completion of the GAO process before allowing contract award or work to proceed.That is an agency administrative action and no court is involved. The GAO has no authority to reverse or otherwise prevent an agency override. The only entity which can reverse an agency override is a Federal Claims Court.In short, NASA could at any time effectively ignore the GAO (for the moment) and allow work to proceed under CCtCap by issuing an override.