Today’s Ask The Administrator Question: Shooting Down Another RumorOctober 27
Today’s Ask The Administrator Question: Shooting Down Another Rumor
From: Anonymous at Marshall Space Flight Center Question(s): An alternative launch vehicle was proposed that has many advantages to Ares I/V. The direct STS derived vehicle offers more mass to orbit at $2B less per year, minimizes changes to the STS launch infrastructure while maintaining existing workforce, provides greater flexibility for lunar architecture options including global access anytime return, enables large science missions, and allows upgrades for Mars exploration. The vehicle is described in a Sept 2007 AIAA paper “Achieving the Vision for Space Exploration on Time and Within Budget”, 2007-6231 (www.directlauncher.com). Is NASA considering a seldom encounter option of “better, faster, cheaper” as a slight change to the Ares I/V approach that opened the doors to exploration beyond low earth orbit? If not, why not?
27 Oct 2007 | 6:56 am | Cosmoss Rus and Eng
