William Atkins
Wednesday, 09 April 2008 19:32
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 3
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been reviewed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Concerns have been raised on its future plans for Project Constellation. Leadership at The Boeing Company is also concerned with the ability of the United States to maintain its space leadership role.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)--as part of a congressional hearing on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) exploration initiative--stated that it has many concerns about the
“considerable unknowns as to whether NASA’s plans for these vehicles [Ares, Orion, part of Constellation Project] can be executed within schedule goals.”
The
GAO report stated that these uncertainties
“pose risks to the successful outcome of the projects.”
The report also stated,
“The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is in the midst of two new development efforts as part of the Constellation Program--the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle and the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. These projects are critical to the success of the overall program, which will return humans to spaceflight after Space Shuttle retirement in 2010.”
The report continues,
“To reduce the gap in human spaceflight, NASA plans to launch Ares I and Orion in 2015--5 years after the Shuttle's retirement. GAO has issued a number of reports and testimonies that touch on various aspects of NASA's Constellation Program, particularly the development efforts underway for the Orion and Ares I projects. These reports and testimonies have questioned the affordability and overall acquisition strategy for each project.”
Specifically, the GAO report ("
Ares I and Orion Project Risks and Key Indicators to Measure Progress") listed these concerns:
“A history of weight problems with the Ares I and Orion designs that could keep Orion from actually reaching orbit”
“Development of an essentially new engine for Ares I's upper stage”
“The lack of industry capability to produce the heat shields that Orion will need to re-enter Earth's atmosphere”
“Insufficient test facilities for Ares I's new engine, for replicating the engine's vibration and acoustic environment, and for testing the thermal protection system for the Orion vehicle”
Cristina T. Chaplain, the GAO's director of acquisition and sourcing management, said at the hearing that there are no problems "
that we have determined to be a fatal flaw.” [subscription required, New Scientist: “
NASA says spaceship's violent vibrations under control]
Many members of the U.S. House of Representative (specifically, the subcommittee on space) and the U.S. Senate, along with members of the GAO, are concerned whether NASA can realize its goals for
Project Constellation, particularly its goal of returning astronauts to the Moon by 2020.
Chaplain went on to say,
"While this is a phase for discovery and risk reduction, there are considerable unknowns as to whether NASA's plans for the Ares 1 and Orion vehicles can be executed within schedule goals, as well as what these efforts will ultimately cost." [Houston Chronicle: “
NASA studies shock absorbers to fix moon rocket"]
For additional information on Chaplain's opening statement, please read SpaceRef.com article "
Opening Statement By Cristina T. Chaplain: Hearing on NASA's Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs: Status and Issues".
The Boeing Company, in a related story, is voicing its concerns with the ability of the United States to maintain its leadership role in space over the next ten years. Please read on.
