Replies

the crawlers are not in very good shape - they are now about 40 years old, and have cacked blocks and pistons, and much deferred maintenance.

I don't know if they still have it, but I worked with the programmers and created a report once, listing all the deferred maintenance and parts status.

They are indeed huge - one link (shoe) in a tread weighs in at 2000 lbs.

here is a true funny story - about 15 years ago, at KSC they decided to clean up and get rid of some un-necessary parts in the warehouse. They had some 'crawler shoes' that had never been used in many years, so they sent them to salvage. Well, the salvage list goes out to other government agencies, so they can have a chance to get/use some of the things before they are sent to junk or auction.

And lo and behold, a place in West Virginia decided to pull them out, and they were shipped to West Virginia, to a government home for unwed mothers, who thought they could use some 'crawler shoes'. True story.

Kennedy Space Center logistics didn't realize what they had done until they got an inquiry from West Virginia, as to what to do with them. So, they decided, as they were no longer manufacturered, anywhere in the world, they should be brought back and put back in the warehouse.

Dilbert ran a cartoon a couple of months ago in which his company farmed out tech support to India; India subcontracted it to China; China subcontracted it to Indonesia, and Indonesia subcontracted it back to Dilbert's company because the wages were now lower.

I liked the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program, NASA wastes so much money, spending a few million on such efforts is a drop in the bucket. It doesn't require any new funding, just eliminate a Gore-sat every now and then to free up the funds for it.