Author Topic: Popular Machanics article on commercial contracting (Read 2352 times)

Danny Dot · « **on:** 10/19/2011 11:39 am »

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/nasa/is-this-nasa-document-saving-or-killing-manned-private-spaceflight-6518496?src=soc_fcbk

I found this to be an interesting article.

yg1968 · « **Reply #1 on:** 10/19/2011 01:58 pm »

There is also a related Q&A with Phil McAlister:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/nasa/interview-nasas-new-rules-for-private-companies-and-their-human-carrying-spacecraft

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #2 on:** 10/20/2011 04:50 am »

Can't read the article, as that site is embedded with ad bots leeching data of each person who reads it, but this thread is not about that wacko who spams the comment sections of whereever he can. And yes, he's banned here too, and yes, he feeds of people slagging him off so he can then act like the victim.

Trimmed back, not worth my bandwidth talking about him.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #3 on:** 10/21/2011 12:48 am »

It does give us some important insight into why NASA is going about Commercial Crew the way they are. Cargo is cheap, does not require much taking care of, and easily replaceable. Crew is simply the opposite: people are not cheap, not replaceable (socially) and require much in the way of care either through LV reliability, ascent profile, ect. Plus as mentioned, there will be other sources for cargo services (ie progress, ATV, HTV) but for USOS crew not so. All seem logical reasons for NASA to be more hands on.