If the Space Shuttles are now obsolete(too old to be safe) how will we send up NEW satellites when t

[Stranger_On_A_Train]

@lazybratsche

Shortly after I voiced cautious optimism for Obama’s new direction for NASA, it now looks like the senate is considering legislation to reverse all of the new ideas. There’s a new bill in the works that will require NASA to have a few more Shuttle launches, develop a new heavy lift rocket (mostly by picking up Constellation again), while axing funding for new technology development and robotic exploration. And there are specific provisions that require NASA to use current facilities and specific contractors while blocking out newer private companies. Unsurprisingly, this bill is sponsored by the senators with the aforementioned facilities and contractors in their districts.

Nothing new about that. It is no coincidence that the STS contains components from every state in the Union, or that the proposal for Constellation was the one what promised the most work back to NASA and direct subcontractors.

Stranger

[Chronos]

Funding for manned space flight is also one of the few things legislators from Texas, California, and Florida can all agree to, and it’s tough to build a coalition in the House that can stand up to those three combined.