Posted on 05/10/2010 11:17:53 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. military and intelligence community’s space launch manifest is ramping up to an unusually high pace to deploy several first-of-fleet spacecraft that will modernize the nation’s communications, missile warning, surveillance and navigation infrastructures.
But uncertainties are clouding the outlook of the liquid- and solid-fueled booster industrial base following a White House decision to terminate NASA’s Constellation program.
The Pentagon and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)—which develops and operates intelligence satellites for the U.S.—are in the midst of several studies to help chart a path forward. In parallel, NASA, the Pentagon, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Missile Defense Agency are collaborating.
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley requested a major study, the Launch Broad Area Review (BAR) + 10 Years, which will examine the state of the industrial base in “light of program changes since the last BAR,” according to Air Force officials. It will be led by USAF Gen. (ret.) Larry Welch, who also spearheaded the 1999 BAR. That study explored the underlying causes of a spike in launch failures, which resulted in the loss of billions of dollars worth of hardware, including an NRO satellite, an early missile warning spacecraft and a military communications payload designed to ensure the U.S. president is in constant contact with nuclear forces.
The Launch BAR of 2010’s mission also is examining a crisis, but one of a different nature. Senior government officials are trying to understand how to support the industrial base with reduced funding. Welch’s report is due to Donley this month.
(Excerpt) Read more at aviationweek.com ...
hussein had no real reason to kill of Constellation. In the end, most of it will be done anyway, at higher cost of course. Although there probably won’t be the big successes that boost American power.
There is the Heavy Lift vehicle(HLLV) that is being talked about in NASA.
hussein has no vision, so anything we do now is probably considering that. Moon, Mars.. Something.
This is the last of his concerns. Sadly only Reagan really considered space a priority since I’ve been alive, and even then we kinda didn’t get anywhere beyond the shuttle which was already setup.
The Ares 1/4/5 system seemed pretty good. Who knows if it’ll get anywhere in the end.
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