Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?

[bananas]

http://nasawatch.com/archives/2010/04/is-a-human-spac.html

Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?
By Keith Cowing on April 5, 2010 9:00 PM 17 Comments

Keith's note: Only a week and a half remain before the much-anticipated Space Summit at NASA KSC on 15 April. While no public mention has been made as to venue, agenda, participants, audience etc., there does seem to be a general consensus forming behind the scenes as to what sort of rethinking might be acceptable to all parties with regard to where NASA human spaceflight is going.

This is the consensus that seems to forming in and among NASA, OSTP, and NSC: Ares 1 and 5 remain cancelled. Orion is continued - but in a "Lite" variant designed to ferry people to and from ISS. This "Orion Lite" would fly on human-rated EELVs and would be, in essence, a government competitor to what NASA is also encouraging the so-called "Merchant 7" (SpaceX, Orbital et al) to develop. The commercial activities would remain unchanged from what was announced in February. Meanwhile, NASA will continue to fly the Space Shuttle albeit at a stretched out rate (2 or so flights/year) while ET production is restarted.

In addition to closing the "gap" for American human spaceflight, stretched out Space Shuttle operations will allow a rapid implementation of a Shuttle-C ("Sidemount") HLV to be developed. This Shuttle-C HLV will carry cargo, but no crew. The Shuttle-C will be a direct upgrade to the existing Space Shuttle Orbiter system with only the Orbiter replaced with engines and a cargo carrier. Everything else remains the way it is now.

<snip>

While keeping Orion alive, NASA will also seek to develop a human-rated exploration spacecraft that only operates in space. The initial version will likely use unused ISS modules (enhanced MPLMs, Node X, Hab Module, ISS ECLSS) and Constellation systems. Its component parts would be launched by the Shuttle/Shuttle-C. The exploration vehicle will be assembled on-orbit at the ISS. This exploration spacecraft will be a pathfinder for more complex systems that will be able to traverse cis-lunar space on a regular basis.

<snip>

[RT Atlanta]

1. Interesting and sounds positive

I am glad to hear things are progressing and that hopefully, the "flight gap" will be significantly reduced or eliminated altogether with extended orbiter flights over the next few years while allowing the private & Orion-light to come online.

Also interesting to hear about Shuttle-C being revisited. I remember that concept being originally contemplated in the mid-80s.

[Phoonzang]

2. I really hope this is true.

I'm excited about the possiblity of a "space-only" spacecraft. Building one is the only way we'll seriously get anywhere in the solar system. The idea of launching a mission to Mars directly from Earth's deep gravity well is kind of silly.

If we can build the ISS, we can certainly build an interplanetary vessel using similar means. Attach a VASMIR engine to that thing and we could be at Mars in a matter of weeks.

[Phoonzang]

3. After several days it looks like the answer to the original question is NO.

http://nasawatch.com/archives/2010/04/stealth-space-s.html

The President will be making a brief appearance at the "Space Summit", tour KSC, make a speech and leave for a fundraiser. He won't even be staying for the actual discussion part of the summit. This doesn't inspire me to believe he gives a damn about manned space flight.

For someone who says he wants children to become interested in science and for America to take the lead in technological innovation again, he doesn't seem to be interested in creating a robust, dynamic space program that would spark the imaginations of the American people like it did in the past.

As Stephen Colbert said the other night, people aren't interested in sending more robots to other planets and hearing "this is one small step for BLEEP BLORP."