pv04+@andrew.cmu.edu (Philip Verdieck) (11/19/88)
While we sit back, discussing the space shuttles, and in particular when will our be up, and how often, there is one totally ignored topic so far. How many more time can we do it. Not because of mechanical problems, but a limit on supplies. Do you realize that as things stand NASA has only supplies for 20 more launches? A week or two ago a critical booster supplier went out of business. A West Virginia chemical/plastic/whatever firm that bellied up is the ONLY SUPPLIER OF RAYON!!! I think that is the term. What I am referring to is a critical part of the boosters nozzle, or something. Due to economic and environmental problems this firmed sucked suds in early November. They are the sole supplier of this needed component. Now this is a topic for conversation....
klr@hadron.UUCP (Kurt L. Reisler) (11/21/88)
In article <wXVDwhF88k-0En81cN@andrew.cmu.edu> pv04+@andrew.cmu.edu (Philip Verdieck) writes: > >Do you realize that as things stand NASA has only supplies for 20 more >launches? > >A week or two ago a critical booster supplier went out of business. >A West Virginia chemical/plastic/whatever firm that bellied up is >the ONLY SUPPLIER OF RAYON!!! > >I think that is the term. What I am referring to is a critical part of >the boosters nozzle, or something. Due to economic and environmental >problems this firmed sucked suds in early November. They are the sole >supplier of this needed component. > >Now this is a topic for conversation.... Not really. Avtech (probably misspelled) is located in Winchester Virginia, not West Virginia, and has been back in business for the past two weeks. Seems that when the shuttle program went on hold, NASA canned the contracts to purchase the rayon that is used for the shuttle engines. Avtech is the ONLY supplier in the US. Avtech did shut down for about a week. The resulting fast shuffle and finger pointing did result in 2 large contracts (one from NASA and one from the DoD) which will keep Avtech running (and polluting) for the next few years. It is interesting that this was allowed to happen at all. Kurt Reisler (703) 359-6100 ============================================================================ UNISIG Chairman, DECUS US Chapter | Hadron, Inc. ..{uunet|sundc|rlgvax|netxcom|decuac}!hadron!klr | 9990 Lee Highway Sysop, Fido 109/74 The Bear's Den (703) 671-0598 | Suite 481 Sysop, Fido 109/483 The Pot of Gold (703) 359-6549 | Fairfax, VA 22030 ============================================================================
gl8f@bessel.acc.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) (11/22/88)
In article <804@hadron.UUCP> klr@hadron.UUCP (Kurt L. Reisler) writes: > [...] >Avtech (probably misspelled) is located in Winchester Virginia, not West >Virginia, and has been back in business for the past two weeks. Seems >that when the shuttle program went on hold, NASA canned the contracts to >purchase the rayon that is used for the shuttle engines. Avtech is the >ONLY supplier in the US. Avtech did shut down for about a week. The >resulting fast shuffle and finger pointing did result in 2 large >contracts (one from NASA and one from the DoD) which will keep Avtech >running (and polluting) for the next few years. > >It is interesting that this was allowed to happen at all. NASA only buys a tiny fraction of the plant's total output. The agreement is that the company is going to run off a several year's supply for NASA, and if they go belly up NASA owns the technology to make the necessary stuff and can get somebody else to do it. It happened in the first place because the company is apparently managed horribly. NASA did the right thing by making sure they have the technology and can arrange second-sourcing. -- greg ---------- Greg Lindahl internet: gl8f@virginia.edu University of Virginia Department of Astronomy bitnet: gl8f@virginia.bitnet "grad students don't need disclaimers; the department doesn't care what I think"
mears@hpindda.HP.COM (David B. Mears) (11/22/88)
> / hpindda:sci.space.shuttle / pv04+@andrew.cmu.edu (Philip Verdieck) / 8:57 pm Nov 18, 1988 / > > While we sit back, discussing the space shuttles, and in particular > when will our be up, and how often, there is one totally ignored > topic so far. How many more time can we do it. Not because of mechanical > problems, but a limit on supplies. > > Do you realize that as things stand NASA has only supplies for 20 more > launches? > > A week or two ago a critical booster supplier went out of business. > A West Virginia chemical/plastic/whatever firm that bellied up is > the ONLY SUPPLIER OF RAYON!!! > > I think that is the term. What I am referring to is a critical part of > the boosters nozzle, or something. Due to economic and environmental > problems this firmed sucked suds in early November. They are the sole > supplier of this needed component. > > Now this is a topic for conversation.... > ---------- I had thought it was more than two weeks ago that the company suddenly and inexplicably went out of business. I also remember reading within the last couple of weeks that the company, just as suddenly and inexplicably, decided to go back into business again. The whole thing seems rather strange that we haven't heard any more about a situation that puts the continuance of the US space program in jeopardy. Or do you have any later information than what I've retold here? David B. Mears Hewlett-Packard Cupertino CA hplabs!hpda!mears