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What problem would be so important that NASA scientists and engineers would be willing to work independent, unpaid, on their own time, to find an alternate solution?
For the last two years those familiar with and interested in space, science, and technology (like me) have heard and have been excited about the development of a new rocket, one planned to not only replace the Space Shuttle, but also to eventually return to the moon. This project is called "Ares", with the two designations, "Ares I", and "Ares V", being the names of the two rockets being built. Upon hearing about it, I thought the plan was done, the course was set, and NASA and the scientific community's mind was made up. It seemed like a good idea to all-- or so I thought.
A couple weeks ago I learned about something that has radically changed my view of the Ares project -- it is that there is a problem big enough with the Ares project that at least 57 NASA and some other independent scientists and engineers are willing, unpaid and during their free time, to develop an alternate proposal to that of Ares, called Jupiter.
Wow -- that caught my attention. However, the first article I read didn't give a whole lot of details, and primarily gave NASA's point of view on the issue. But since learning more, I'm beginning to understand where these scientists are coming from.
The issue is political
I have noticed that many articles about the Jupiter project miss the whole reason these scientists are doing what they're doing. Many of the articles emphasize that the proposed Jupiter design claims to be "safer" and "cheaper", which is true. But if all these scientists had was a safer and cheaper design, would that be sufficient cause to risk losing their job over? Nobody is doubting that NASA is capable of building a safe and operational rocket, that can do everything they have outlined it to do. The real issue is political. These 57 scientists strongly believe that if NASA were to go the direction they are going now, and then lose political backing half-way through, then America would end up losing much of our space program's infrastructure that is in place today. We would be set back to the days prior to the Space Shuttle!
The original plan of the Ares project was to reuse tried-and-true technologies in a new form so to be a new and more capable rocket then we've had before. However, it hasn't happened quite like that. The Ares design today is much different than the Space Shuttle, and uses many technologies which are new or still in development. It's different enough that many aspects of the current shuttle, such as the shuttle launch-pads, manufacturing processes, etc., in addition to the skills and knowledge of experienced engineers on these topics, will all be replaced. If at the point of transition political backing was lost, that is where so much would be lost. Also realizing that these changes are causing the completion date of Ares to be pushed all the way to 2015, and realizing that Ares requires the development of two rockets, not just one, the chance of losing political backing is too big for comfort.
Instead, these rouge scientists have come up with an alternate plan. They propose to do what we were going to do in the first place -- stick with what we have: the space shuttle parts that already have established designs and fabrication plants and experienced engineers to support them. Use those parts and build us a rocket that does the exact same thing as Ares! And we'll build ONE rocket which can fulfill the purpose that the two Ares rockets fill, cutting development costs even further. These scientists have a preliminary design, and have named their concept "Jupiter". Yes, not only is it a bit safer, but the important thing is that it'll be developed faster and with smaller development cost, thus having a far greater chance of being completed within the timeframe of political support! In addition, it offers to maintain the vast majority of the current infrastructure of engineers, manufacturing facilities, launch pads, and other important parts of the space program. It also offers to do with one general rocket design what the Ares project intends to do with two. All in all it has a far greater chance of overcoming political hurtles.
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More and more people need to know about this project, because for the good of our country's space program, this proposal deserves a full-fledged review by NASA. So far it has only received an unofficial review, and in some cases NASA is simply ignoring it. Maybe NASA knows what they're doing, and for reasons unknown to the outside public there are better reasons to stay with Ares. But on the other hand, maybe NASA just doesn't want to lose face when their much-publicized Ares project is abandoned! Either way, the answer will only become apparent after a full official review. After so much work, unpaid, and putting their own jobs on the line, these scientists deserve it.
Spread the word!
Link to News Article about the Jupiter Project
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6 comments:
Hey Steven!
Interesting topic! Have you thought about e-mailing your Congressional Representatives? Anything that has to do with a political nature that has to go thru The House of Reps and the Senate you can bring the attention of your Representatives to both houses and at least let your opinion be known.
The main reason that NASA needs political support is for the money. Every penny they spend has to be reported to the House of Reps. and Senate to the overseeing committees that are assigned to them. If you think it is a better idea, then ask your representatives to look into it and propose an investigation of the expenses to Congress. The government, believe it or not, likes the idea of saving money; dsespite the fact that we have the highest deficet in history with no sign of the government attempting to pay off the bills, they just print more money and keep spending at the moment, but that's another topic all together!
God Bless!
NASA always seems to bite off more than it can chew. It drives me nuts sometimes, because they can never make their plans cheap and simple enough to actually get political support. The Cold War is over. They can't expect open-ended checks for all their new and ambitious programs. They need to stick to the basics if they want to keep their program running (or in their case, in orbit).
We're too dependent on the satellites, Benjamin for NASA not to get funding, besides there are new government threats, such as Iran and the nuclear threat there, as well as Korea, if the two of them united it could be ugly for the US and the Allied countries.
The Satellites are not just "Spy" as shown in the movies, but they are used for cell phones, they are used for GPS systems as well as our weather tracking throughout the world. If we want to maintain the technology that we hold now we have to maintain the equipment that is already there, and NASA is the only way to do so at the moment.
Businesses have paid the government big money for their equipment to be sent to space, and for the government to maintain the status quo for the equipment so they can stay competitive in todays informational and technological age.
NASA hasn't just been tracking comets and exploring planets...That doesn't bring in the revenue to keep them afloat and would have proven pointless years ago after the first moon landing...Not many people know or care what is on the space exploration agenda until they know how it's going to affect them.
Angela, you said:
"Not many people know or care what is on the space exploration agenda until they know how it's going to affect them."
Good point! It's true that for the general public the "romanticism" of space exploration in and of itself has faded since the Space Race of the 1960's. The most important and must readily funded projects done by NASA are just what you said-- the GPS, and other satelite programs that aid in such things as National Defense that influence people's lives directly.
However, I think Ben is referring to the "space exploration"-focused projects that NASA is working on when he mentions that sometimes they bite more off then they can chew. satellite and GPS programs are mostly unmanned, and you're right, will continue to receive funding, no matter what. But the manned space-exploration oriented missions are a little different, because it's harder for the public to see how it will benefit them directly, like you said. Perhaps it's because the vast majority of NASA employees STILL HAVE the 1960's-era space-exploration romanticism that I mentioned above, and they forget that the general public doesn't anymore. So they come up with these amazing ambitious projects, but then lose funding over time because the outside public doesn't have the same patience they do. The VentureStar project was canceled a few years ago, and before that the NASP, both projects examples of NASA "biting off more then they can chew" when it comes to what they expected Congress to fund for a project. Back then, it was okay that those projects failed because they still had the Space Shuttle to fall back on. But now that's not the case. Come 2010, the Space Shuttle will be retired, and another failed project, if not done right, could lead to problems. And actually, the current non-space-exploration projects we mentioned above could also be indirectly affected as a result. That's my impression, anyway. What do you think?
Hey Steven!
I think that the government will fund NASA to replace the space shuttle because of the equipment that they already have in space. They need the intel not only for national security, but also the weather service depends on the satellites that are already in orbit. We receive far too much information from the satellites to give it up now.
As far as the romanticism of space exploration, NASA needs to make it clear to the government how the exploration of other planets could help the earth. For example,can we find oil on other planets and preserve our own resources? (Completely fabricated statement, but I think it makes my point) If the money invested could earn a profit in return then people might be a little bit more willing to listen and put forth the funds necessary to continue NASA's efforts. An example in our history is that the reason that the Spanish came to Mexico was in search of the Gold. It is sad, but decisions are totally based on money now.
So will the shuttles be replaced? Yes. Will funding for explorations of other planets come? I don't think it will until the people of this nation begin to understand the blessings of branching out and finding out about the solar system around us.
Hey Guys!
I started blogging on my page again; you guys inspired me! the address is:
http://amw4ijc.blogspot.com/
I hope you and your friends come and check out the page, I have some new products featured on the website and information that you'll love, as well as the address to my business websites featured on there as well.
Besides, the page isn't all business, there is some interesting thoughts as well, but honestly, it is getting lonely on my page because it seems all the action is over here!
Have a blessed week, and check out my page! Thanks!
Angela
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