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Home Front: Politix

House wants to give all human spaceflight to Boeing?

2020-01-28

How fortunate that the House can accomplish nothing when the Senate and President Trump disagree.

[Twitter]

Pretty much. https://t.co/92NsfFE9fk
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) January 27, 2020

The Coalition for Deep Space Exploration weighs in on the House’s NASA authorization bill, saying it’s “helping to spark a robust exchange” on how to achieve the long term goal of humans to Mars. [That much is certain.] pic.twitter.com/KeUFSyYjB1
— Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) January 27, 2020

This is ridiculous; Boeing thinks it can still follow the 1960's paradigm of billion-dollars-a-flight space missions?
— Michael Hutson (@michael_hutson) January 27, 2020

Boeing bailout plan is in place. And disguised. https://t.co/CDEvSnQ2sG
— Bilal Zuberi (@bznotes) January 27, 2020

Even with stuff like this happening almost every day:

As @CHenry_SN reported last Friday, Boeing believes there’s a “very low likelihood” other satellites could suffer the same problem as Spaceway-1. https://t.co/btMjz95Ykv https://t.co/3el3Q0aXfN
— Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) January 27, 2020

I hadn't even thought about it in this way!
It would make sense as Boeing has had a string of failures recently, and poor performance would hurt its fulfilment of US government contracts in the military sector.
— ToughSF (@ToughSf) January 27, 2020

A balanced evaluation of the new NASA appropriations bill: "If we are going to explore Mars in a safe and sustainable way, we will require a strong in situ resource utilization capability and significant technology development using the surface of the Moon." https://t.co/M4oQD5XzEY
— Dr. Phil Metzger (@DrPhiltill) January 27, 2020

Posted by:3dc

#11 #10 If this analysis is correct, then I'm even less enamored of this move than I was.

It seems to me that the mission should drive the requirements; this appears to be the reverse.

And not using lunar to facilitate Mars missions?

I mean, if it can't be made to work, that's one thing; but to mandate separation of the efforts seems ... strange.

Posted by: charger 2020-01-28 17:58

#10 Rand Simberg's Transterrestial Musing is the first blog I go to on this subject: The House NASA Authorization Bill(Jan 27)

Posted by: magpie 2020-01-28 13:52

#9 Thx Panster.

Posted by: Besoeker 2020-01-28 10:30

#8 Snarks are easy, this is a bit more complex. SpaceX is successful because they control the vendors and the process, not unlike what NASA is trying to do with Boeing. When NASA has multiple vendors on the program there is redundancies that are not complimentary, causing costs to soar. Take the Boeing or SpaceX name out and ask if it is still a bad idea. We have shown that NASA is way to expensive, other space providers have proven cost effective. And I think the days of forcing companies to team on Govt contracts are about over. It has proven time and time again to be a schedule and price killer. BTW, Boeing does not need a bail out. With the 737Max line running and not delivering Boeing still made a profit this year, not great but in the green. Boeing has hundreds of aircraft to deliver this year, they don't need this to survive and prosper.

Posted by: 49 Pan 2020-01-28 10:22

#7 Gotta support those retired US military officers in the employ of Boeing.
Besides, the US gum'ment bailed Boeing out in the '70s or so. What's a little single-source contract gonna hurt?

Posted by: DooDahMan 2020-01-28 08:28

#6 Sure thing, Dems - as soon as you sign off for $75 billion for a border wall. That or something similar should be brought up if / when this bill goes to conference.

Posted by: Raj 2020-01-28 08:19

#5 Just like foreign aid.

Looks like some house members families want a sinecure at boeing.

#CronyRentierism

Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2020-01-28 05:04

#4 $$$ will rain down from the congressional welkin ... into the Boeingian (executives') pockets
... andinto the pockets of their captive Congresscritters

Posted by: Lex 2020-01-28 02:54

#3 And it's "free rein" dammit!

Oh my goodness, yes! It refers to letting the horses move freely without controlling them via the reins.

Posted by: trailing wife 2020-01-28 00:53

#2 No.

Keep it open for competition. Only way to improve things and make it affordable.

Posted by: DarthVader 2020-01-28 00:33

#1 Well, it'll be a miserable failure, but at least it will be woke and diverse and Muslim friendly.

And it's "free rein" dammit! Sorry, pet peeve.

Posted by: charger 2020-01-28 00:18

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