MAIN ARTICLE: Sen Bill Nelson: Not so fast President Obama.
After putting up a barrier to President Obama's choice for NASA Administrator, Sen Bill Nelson (D-FL) now wants to put up another one for the Space Shuttle.
Page 2: The Flood in ND
Poll Results: Yesterday's poll had a lower then average turnout but many took advantage of a free telescope.
Star Trek: In the News. Supposedly Fan-Made Star Trek Posters Actually Genuine
Yesterday's Comments: "No bailouts!
Oh, wait... it's ballutes... my bad" - Lord Mike
Today's Poll: President Obama plans to retire the Space Shuttle on schedule in 2010 - Agree or Disagree?
FLEXING THEIR MUSCLES:
Another group of Senators are trying to flex their Senatorial muscle. A group, sitting on the Senate budget commitee and led by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), want to change both the NASA budget and it's direction as it relates the Space Shuttle retirement date.
US Senate budget panel tells Obama not to get too attached to 2010 shuttle retirement date
"WASHINGTON -- A U.S. Senate budget panel recommended Thursday that the space shuttle should be allowed to fly beyond its scheduled retirement in 2010 if necessary -- a proposal that directly contradicts a recent White House plan to mothball the shuttle next year.
While the directive itself has little power, it sends a clear message to President Obama that NASA allies on Capitol Hill are not yet ready to end about three decades of shuttle flights. The non-binding resolution also suggests adding $2.5 billion to NASA’s 2011 budget for launches that year.
"... [A] fixed retirement date could create dangerous scheduling pressures," notes the Senate Budget committee resolution, which outlines Congress’ spending priorities but has little effect on the actual spending, as congressional appropriations committees are responsible for doling out dollars.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, took credit for inserting the language as he sits on the budget committee and wants to limit the time between the space shuttle’s retirement and the first launch of its replacement, now slated for 2015."
--end quote--
Senator Nelson has recently been a thorn in the Administration's plans to install a new, long overdue, NASA Chief Administrator (see "Senator Bill Nelson, be a statesman", Ferris Valyn, Mar 18, 2009) to replace, ex-Chief, Dr. Michael Griffin.
According to Mr. Valyn: "There is much speculation and hope that President Obama will be nominating a NASA administrator soon. However, a recent report by the Orlando Sentinel has me concerned, and many in the space industry"
With this I strongly agree, there are some very important decisions that have to be made. High on the list is the growing controversy over the rocket that will used to to launch the new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV).
OUT WITH THE OLD VISION - IN WITH THE NEW?
Current American Space Policy
In 2004, President Bush laid out a new path for America's space agency, NASA. The Vison for Space Exploration, or VSE, was a bold move to take the Nation out of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and a return to Earth's nearest neighbor, LUNA!
(vision for space video - 6:36)
The VSE called for completing the International Space Station (ISS) by 2010 and retiring the Space Transportation System (STS) or it's more common name, the Space Shuttle, at the end of that year.
The second leg was to design, develop and build a new CEV and a Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLLV) utilizing as much as possible from the existing Space Shuttle systems.
The new systems were supposed to start launching crew to the ISS in 2014, to Luna by 2020, start an outpost on the moon's surface by 2025 all in preparation for a human space flight to Mars. No date was given for that but 2035 seems to be a benchmark.
Retiring the Shuttle, in 2010, would leave America with a four year gap without any Astronaut launch capability. Cargo would be handled by the private sector, with the 500 million gamble, NASA made, on COTS. Commercial Orbital Transportation Services or COTS awards were won by SpaceX and Orbital Sciences.
There has been a little trouble on that front. First one of the companies winning an original award couldn't come up with the financing and was eliminated. The award then went to Orbital Sciences but (see "NASA contract threatens COTS plans?", 'Americans in Space', Jan 04, 2009) PlanetSpace is contesting the contract award. They believe their system should have won the award.
The Russian space sector (see "Russia announces verbal deal.", 'Americans in Space', Feb 07, 2009) is going to do alright also with almost 1 billion in contracts to date for launching American Astronauts.
THE OLD BAIT AND SWITCH:
Then NASA Chief, Michael Griffin, immediately dropped using anything from the space shuttle and gave us totally new, very expensive systems. The current program is called the Constellation program and has four main elements. The Ares I launch rocket "the stick" which will launch the new CEV, Orion. For launching the Lunar lander a new HLLV is being designed called the Ares V. Able to push 207 tons into LEO this will be the largest rocket ever built by America. The Saturn V, from the Apollo program, that took the Nation to the moon last time could lift 118 tons to Orbit.
The Ares V would launch the Altair lunar lander and the Earth Departure Stage (EDS). The Orion crew capsule docks with the Altair and the EDS launches the whole stack to the moon.
President Obama has given the nod to continue with the return to the moon but has never mentioned the current Constellation architecture. In his budget he has funding for one additional shuttle flight that he promised during the campaign. This will be used to launch the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer or (AMS) to the International Space Station.
CONCLUSIONS:
This system was already over budget and underfunded by President Bush and has pushed "the gap" to 2015 and possibly out to 2016. The Space Shuttle would need an additional 2.5 billion according to Sen. Nelson. This would either have to be a seperate funding stream or NASA would have to cut something. They could push back the timeline for the lunar systems or switch to less expensive launch vehicles.
Will President Obama rewrite the Vision for Space Exploration or push back and retire the Space Shuttle on schedule. The Administration may try for more funding, or even swith architecture to Direct. (more on Direct in another diary)
americansinspace@yahoo.com
PAGE 2:
As many of you know, I live where it is flooding in Fargo, North Dakota. The 'Americans in Space' Diary is heading to the ... sighs ... not the stars, but to higher ground.
Unless I can wrangle something I will not be online, bending your ears, for 3-7 days.
My daughter just asked me if I was going to mention the flood, in my diary. I said "yes, I am even going to pimp my diary and try to get on the recommended list because I may ... gulp, drown in the flood."
She responded: "My God, you're shameless!". "why not..." I laughingly replied. She then quiped, "you're incredible."
"That's me alright, (flexed my muscle) one of the "Incredibles". That got a laugh outta her.
I hope everyone has a great weekend and stay safe. Oh and ...
(looks over his shoulder) whispers: please pimp my flood diary
.
(this is an image of the river by Bismark but I chose it for the cute doggie)
UNPRECEDENTED HISTORY: Red River water level tops historic marker
"FARGO - In an unprecedented moment in recorded history, the Red River in Fargo this morning eclipsed the mark for its largest crest."
Oh before I go, Did I mention what a great job the Rescue Rangers do?
Okay, okay, I am really leavin... You know another great bunch of people are the ones who do the Overnight News Digest.
Ek Hornbeck, jlms qkw, Neon Vincent, palantir, wader, Oke, ScottyUrb.
(smiles) Later Everyone . V
UPDATE: - "What Global Climate change?"
New Red River flood forecast: Evacuate
"RED RIVER VALLEY - As the Red River of the North rose toward record levels and evacuations mounted, the mayor of Fargo, N.D., vowed Thursday that exhausted residents and volunteers would continue to fortify the area and "go down swinging if we go down."
Forecasters increased the river's crest projection, saying that by Saturday afternoon, the Red could reach 43 feet, an all-time record in Fargo-Moorhead and 3 feet higher than the historic 1997 flood."
POLL RESULTS:
The poll yesterday: "Will you be experiencing the worldwide telescope?" was about the free telescope and how many were going to check it out. 65% said yes they were going to give it a try and 31% said maybe. I hope everyone enjoyed it.
STAR TREK: In the News.
Supposedly Fan-Made Star Trek Posters Actually Genuine
"Recently there were three new posters released for J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Trek that were thought to be fan-made. Since they use previously seen imagery from other posters, images and trailers, it was assumed that they were Photoshop jobs, albeit from someone with skills. And looking at them myself that was my first thought, but something changed my mind."
YESTERDAY'S COMMENTS:
"Thanks for the curriculum.
Star Wars or Star Trek? Doctor Who. Should have been Firefly, God damn it, but oh well.
I will point out, if it hasn't been pointed out already, that the financial and resource crisis we're currently undergoing is predicated on a limited and shrinking pool of resources.
Another solution would be to add resources, moving our heavy industry somewhere where it doesn't foul or food, water and air - for the same reason we don't smelt metal, raise chickens, and use the bathroom in our kitchens.
In short, another solution to the financial crisis, and one that will expand our options instead of narrow them:
We gotta get off this planet." - Moody Loner
"Depends If It's Like Computers or Like Oil
If it's like oil, we won't be able to afford model airplanes.
If it's like computers, we'll all live in space except for the assholes who blew everything investing early in something that became essentially free 20 years later." - Gooserock
TODAY'S POLL:
americansinspace@yahoo.com
Read other NASA and Space diaries on DKOS.