Assuming Trump wins a second term (admittedly, we are treading into the theoretical weeds here), NASA would have until the end of 2024 to “return to the Moon.” That is why the following line from Pence’s speech is significant.“Our administration is working tirelessly to put an American crew aboard the lunar orbital platform before the end of 2024,” Pence said Thursday to a capacity audience inside Teague Auditorium on the space center campus.
In addition to the rocket, NASA must also build the Gateway itself. For now, the Gateway remains a theoretical construct with no hardware yet designed or metal cut. To be ready by 2024, NASA must soon lock in a design for the Gateway elements, including power and propulsion systems, a habitat module, an airlock, and more. NASA is still setting requirements and taking proposals from vendors for these components. With none of this firmed up, NASA would need to move quickly to finalize its requirements, select firms to build the components, complete that work, and ready everything for launch.
New article by Ars Technica about a VP Pence visit to NASA and his remarks about what Trump's goals are for the Moon:How the White House plans a return to the Moon during Trump’s presidency | Ars TechnicaImportant excerpts:QuoteAssuming Trump wins a second term (admittedly, we are treading into the theoretical weeds here), NASA would have until the end of 2024 to “return to the Moon.” That is why the following line from Pence’s speech is significant.“Our administration is working tirelessly to put an American crew aboard the lunar orbital platform before the end of 2024,” Pence said Thursday to a capacity audience inside Teague Auditorium on the space center campus.And:QuoteIn addition to the rocket, NASA must also build the Gateway itself. For now, the Gateway remains a theoretical construct with no hardware yet designed or metal cut. To be ready by 2024, NASA must soon lock in a design for the Gateway elements, including power and propulsion systems, a habitat module, an airlock, and more. NASA is still setting requirements and taking proposals from vendors for these components. With none of this firmed up, NASA would need to move quickly to finalize its requirements, select firms to build the components, complete that work, and ready everything for launch.Are we seeing anything on the legislative side within Congress that would allocate funding for this effort starting October 1st 2018?
New article by Ars Technica about a VP Pence visit to NASA and his remarks about what Trump's goals are for the Moon:How the White House plans a return to the Moon during Trump’s presidency | Ars TechnicaImportant excerpts:QuoteAssuming Trump wins a second term (admittedly, we are treading into the theoretical weeds here), NASA would have until the end of 2024 to “return to the Moon.” That is why the following line from Pence’s speech is significant.“Our administration is working tirelessly to put an American crew aboard the lunar orbital platform before the end of 2024,” Pence said Thursday to a capacity audience inside Teague Auditorium on the space center campus.
Here’s what I remember reading on SpacePolicyOnline a few months ago: https://spacepolicyonline.com/free-fact-sheets-and-reports/nasas-fy2019-budget-request/
Moon/Mars. The committee “fully funds the Moon exploration initiatives requested throughout NASA,” but limits obligation of the funds “until a multi-year plan, with specific goals and funding requirements by fiscal year, is submitted to the Committee.”
Quote from: Markstark on 08/24/2018 03:03 amHere’s what I remember reading on SpacePolicyOnline a few months ago: https://spacepolicyonline.com/free-fact-sheets-and-reports/nasas-fy2019-budget-request/So the relevant part from SpacePolicyOnline.com is:QuoteMoon/Mars. The committee “fully funds the Moon exploration initiatives requested throughout NASA,” but limits obligation of the funds “until a multi-year plan, with specific goals and funding requirements by fiscal year, is submitted to the Committee.”What has been missing from NASA since the beginning of the SLS and Orion programs has been detailed budget information for the use of the SLS and Orion. I would imagine such a budget request would have to include how much the SLS and Orion portion will cost, and it will also be interesting to see how much the LOP-G will cost despite trying to use proven NASA systems.But for now, the LOP-G program is not "fully funded", it's been given more of a deposit on the program.
The possibility that we'll finally have an SLS/Exploration program budget is interesting.