🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <72487@cup.portal.com> BrianT@cup.portal.com (Brian Stuart Thorn) writes:
>>We may all be thankful that the people at OSC are willing to try things
>>to see if they will work.

>   What do you call the TSS tether experiments this summer? 

I call it another example of good research and development we need more of.

>   Brand new technology that could revolutionize orbital transfer and power
>   generation. 

Exactly.

>   That was those despicable fools at NASA doing this.

here you lost me. You seem to live in a very black and white world. You
assume that since I don't support everything NASA does (even its mistakes)
that I must oppose everything NASA does.

This is not the case. There is lots of great stuff going on at NASA. I
criticize the unproductive things NASA does so that we can have more of
the good stuff. Why does that bother you so much?

>   Just because NASA isn't deep in development of a new space booster
>   (why bother when SDIO already is) 

NASA shouldn't be developing OR operating any operational space transport
system. That is outside its charter and is ultimately wasteful and harmful
to lower cost solutions.

>   doesn't mean that they aren't
>   doing important work. Just about everything they do on the Spacelab
>   missions is the (ahem) dull background work needed before going on
>   to bigger and better things. 

Without doubt. The problem is that you seem to think asking the question: "is
there a cheaper way to do this" is treason. 

As an engineer I ask myself that same question every single day. Why do you
think NASA shouldn't worry about the costs?

>   It's not fair to denounce NASA for
>   laying the foundation while praising OSC and McDAC for erecting the
>   skyscrapers.

Pegasus is the subject of this thread so that is what I mentioned. 

As to denouncing NASA, I praise NASA when they lay the foundation. I
condemn them when they prevent the skyscraper from being built.

   Allen
-- 
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Allen W. Sherzer | "A great man is one who does nothing but leaves        |
|  aws@iti.org     |  nothing undone"                                       |
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