Does anyone want to give insight as to who these 3 people are that the Direct group met with yesterday?
Quote from: kirghizstan on 01/20/2010 11:28 amDoes anyone want to give insight as to who these 3 people are that the Direct group met with yesterday?William H. Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator for Space Operations Douglas R. Cooke, Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Mission DirectoratePhil Sumrall, Exploration Launch Projects Advanced Planning Manager, MSFCGeoff Yoder, Director, Constellation Systems Division, NASA HQ
There has been lots of talk about engines and segments and stretches over the last few weeks, but I was wondering- how will any of this fly without avionics? And how does turning the program upside down effect that, especially if the core has to be able to function as a sole stage or a booster?
Quote from: Lab Lemming on 01/20/2010 12:00 pmThere has been lots of talk about engines and segments and stretches over the last few weeks, but I was wondering- how will any of this fly without avionics? And how does turning the program upside down effect that, especially if the core has to be able to function as a sole stage or a booster?Many of the avionics can be derived from existing systems. Which is why few people give it mind.
We had a very good meeting this morning with Bill Gerstenmaier, Doug Cooke, Phil Sumrall and Geoff Yoder.We will not go into the details of the meeting, other than to say our presentation was well received, generated two-way questions and answers and that there was sufficient interest that we will definitely be providing more information and will also be engaging in further discussions. I think I speak for all my colleagues when I say that I am very happy with this whole trip.
It looks like Obama will not mention space in the SOTU and just let his budget do the talking with an additional $1 bn or so (a pittance compared to the orgy of overspending the Congress has be authorizing) which is curious since he has to give us the vision as to where to go. This leaves Congress to complete policy legislation governing NASA by May or June. Hopefully Bolden will announce the type of vehicle (a J-24xSH variant) before then.This means a first test launch date no earlier than early 2014. With boots on the ground handling hardware no more than a 1 year ahead of time this leaves a 2 1/2 to 3 year gap for the contractors. It will be interesting to see what they and NASA decide, layoff and try to rehire later, keep a minimal core group and try to rehire later or keep most of the team.There will be equipment and test sets to build or maintain and assembly and test procedures to write for the new hardware so some core group will are least be needed during the interim. However, Mark Nappi, vice president of launch and recovery systems for USA said, "There is no manageable reduction in workforce, this is a cliff…We'll see 4,500 jobs leave Florida in a manner of months."Any ideas to the timeline for the first test flight?
Also, pertaining to your question about the first test flight:Assuming Direct Jupiter 24x series (block 1 rl10b2, block 2 j2x) is approved in its entirety and an extra 1 billion comes in:At the earliest there might be a 1-x flight in very late 2013 of a J140. But I doubt it. Probably a year later. Ask ross for specifics.
The "let the budget do the talking" does not make a whole lot of sense to me as you still have to publicly give a speech or press realese that defines what it is that you are funding you cannot just say: "Up 1 billion dollars for new direction, new HLV, Shuttle extension..ect.". That wouldn't make any sense to anyone except those in the know (general public would go: "Huh??") Based on this, someone will have to give a speech on this and if POTUS isn't going to do it it will probably be Bolden.
Quote from: FinalFrontier on 01/20/2010 03:00 pmThe "let the budget do the talking" does not make a whole lot of sense to me as you still have to publicly give a speech or press realese that defines what it is that you are funding you cannot just say: "Up 1 billion dollars for new direction, new HLV, Shuttle extension..ect.". That wouldn't make any sense to anyone except those in the know (general public would go: "Huh??") Based on this, someone will have to give a speech on this and if POTUS isn't going to do it it will probably be Bolden. I agree but that is the impression Senator Bill Nelson (Fl) got from Obama, that he was not going to have a separate speech. Nelson said that was "a mistake" and I agree. Obama not Bolden will have to give us the direction and I do not think any of us like the "let the budget do the talking" way that Obama seems to be leaning. We shall see.