wjr@frog.UUCP (Bill Richard, Software) (02/11/86)
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I am posting this for a friend of mine who isn't on the net. I will
forward any replys to him.
/* begin message from Michael McClary */
I agree that "sail on, sail on" is the phrase of the day. Also that
NASA flights are about as safe as humanly possible.
There is a problem with NASA, though, and perhaps this is a good time
to air it.
NASA is supposed to be a R&D operation, developing new technology, then
handing it off to private industry for the actual operation. The shuttle
program has caused NASA to forget this, and start acting like a transport
monopoly, trying to crush all competition.
There are a number of private companies trying to provide launch systems,
and there are many commercial firms that want to buy more launches than
NASA can provide. This hasn't resulted in a thriving private launch
business, though, for three reasons:
- NASA launches are subsidized by about 50% by the government.
- Federal and State regulations make it very expensive for a private
company to get the necessary permits. NASA can just ignore them.
- NASA administrators, I hear, have threatened airospace companies
with a cutoff of future NASA orders if they supply parts to "competing"
private launch operations.
The subsidy should be cut out (at least for commercial, rather than
pure research, payloads). There's plenty of demand at the full price.
The regulations should be adjusted, or perhaps suspended in unpopulated
areas. (The US government is already working on this, but what an
opportunity for the first southwestern state that wises up!)
NASA needs to be reminded that its mandate is not to run the railroad,
but to design engines, and then help somebody ELSE build and run the
railroad. Perhaps funding that mission, rather than more NASA shuttle
shots, is what is needed.
Remember what happens to the cost of any program that is run by a
government agency, rather than a private company. Remember, too,
what happens when you try to use one design to handle all problems,
rather than designs tuned to the problem. The shuttle, for all
its hype, is to the space program what a military transport half-track
is to the highway. Yes, you can use it to carry passengers, freight,
and weapons around. Wouldn't a passenger car, a semi-truck, and an
ATV do the jobs faster and cheaper?
/* end of forwarded message */
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William J. Richard @ Charles River Data Systems
983 Concord St. Framingham, MA 01701
Tel: (617) 626-1112
uucp: ...!decvax!frog!wjr