NASA and Diversity

The United States may lose its leading position in space exploration, if
it fails to replace quickly its ailing shuttle fleet with a new reliable
space vehicle, the head of NASA has said. *Michael Griffin, head of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, told Congress on Thursday
that such a move would not be possible without in turn sacrificing some
valuable science programmes.The warning came as the House of
Representatives Committee on Science pondered options in the face of the
continued grounding of the space shuttle fleet. NASA put an indefinite
halt on shuttle launches after a chunk of insulating foam fell off
Discovery's large external fuel tank during lift-off last July. NASA is
also troubled by a large exodus of experienced engineers and technicians
retiring or leaving NASA for other pursuits.
*

*
OPINION-
We all know "Diversity" is politically correct terminology for NO
HETEROSEXUAL WHITE MALES OVER 40 (You know the people who got us to the
moon in 1969) Is Diversity really cloaked Reverse-Racism?

*

http://www.diversitybusiness.com/Res...Divlists/2005/

*
Any connection maybe to the failures and problems at NASA?
*

* America's Top Organizations for Multicultural (Anything but White
Male) Business Opportunities - 2005

*
Rank
Top Government Agencies

1 UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (USPS)
*2* * National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)*
3 Small Business Administration
4 Minority Business Development Agency
5 Department of Transportation
6 U.S. Navy
7 Department of Defense
8 U.S. Army
9 U.S. Air Force
10 Defense Logistics Agency
11 General Services Administration
12 Department of Veterans Affairs
13 Department of Housing and Urban Development
14 Department of Commerce
15 Department of Justice
16 Agency for International Development
17 Department of Health and Human Services
18 Department of Agriculture
19 Department of Education
20 Department of Energy

On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 13:25:00 -0500, DILLIGAF
wrote in
::

The United States may lose its leading position in space exploration, if
it fails to replace quickly its ailing shuttle fleet with a new reliable
space vehicle, the head of NASA has said. *Michael Griffin, head of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, told Congress on Thursday
that such a move would not be possible without in turn sacrificing some
valuable science programmes.

Well, if some Texas cowboy hadn't squandered the federal surplus he
inherited from the Clinton administration, there'd be adequate funding
for science and education. :-)

Oh well, at least we've got 1,300,000 of our sons and daughters in
Iraq and a new (if nonfunctional) Department of Homeland Security.
Don't you think the money is better spent on that sort of thing than
education and science?

Well, if some Texas cowboy hadn't squandered the federal surplus he
inherited from the Clinton administration,

It was sure nice of Mr. Clinton to have invented this internet stuff
for us such that federal revenues would grow. However, I'm not sure why
he didn't choose to stop 9/11. Ah well, at least we know the president
controls everything.

-Robert

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
ups.com...
Well, if some Texas cowboy hadn't squandered the federal surplus he
inherited from the Clinton administration,

It was sure nice of Mr. Clinton to have invented this internet stuff
for us such that federal revenues would grow. However, I'm not sure why
he didn't choose to stop 9/11. Ah well, at least we know the president
controls everything.

-Robert

Gore invented the internet, Clinton invented altrernative uses for cigars.

"Dave Stadt" wrote in message
et...


Gore invented the internet, Clinton invented altrernative uses for cigars.
During which time NOW was screaming that such behavior (boinking
subordinates, using it for promotions, etc) was "the most blatant form of
rape in the country".

They continued their mantra and push for prosecutions (hundreds of corporate
managers and military commanders) right up until their "boy" got nailed. The
screeching brakes on their screeching was deafening.

Haven't heard nary a word on that subject from them since.

Well, if some Texas cowboy hadn't squandered the federal surplus he
inherited from the Clinton administration,

Someone's been reading that clueless, pathological liar and idiot Paul
Krugman.

Larry Dighera wrote:


Well, if some Texas cowboy hadn't squandered the federal surplus he
inherited from the Clinton administration, there'd be adequate funding
for science and education. :-)


This is an utterly ridiculous statement. The amount spent by NASA is tiny -
miniscule. Double tiny and you still have tiny.

Bush, through the Fed coordinator, just submitted a request for 4.2 billion
for Katrina:

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5426

And he'll most likely get it. All of which shows that if the will exists to
spend the money, the money can be found. This is true for the Space program
and science and as well. $4.2 gig is about a quarter of the NASA budget.

There's a whole flamewar all unto itself regarding the dollars spent for
education but I point out one fact to you:

the US spends the most per student and we get the mediocre results.

Fact is that there isn't the political will to spend 20, 40 50 billion more
on the space program. Neither in the public nor the government.

Besides, NASA isn't the place to spend that. And as a Disclaimer I work on a
NASA project: The CHANDRA X-Ray Orbiting Observatory. I don't work for
NASA, but the Smithsonian Institution Center for Astrophysics.

NASA was at it's best when it was NACA - researching, Demo'ing, and
proofing technological ideas and hardware. Then letting other institutions
(including private) use the technology. This was synergistic: private
capital wasn't sunk into risky technological research, and NASA wasn't
managing projects more efficiently managed by private institutions. But I
admit, this is my opinion only.

No sensible business would have kept the Shuttle going after it failed, at
the outset, to deliver the performance. And especially not the safety.

So spending billions on a NASA-based space program is, in my opinion,
wasteful. And I'm talking as one who would like to see Constellation-X fly
someday (project just got stretched out).

There's hope though:

We are seeing a replay of the 20's and 30's. there's work on rocket powered
air racing; the X-prize was won and Diamandis is working on another more
lofty (pun intended) goal. This is one way aviation technology leaped
ahead in the past, and how space technology may leap ahead in the future.
Note that these are private enterprises.

"Saville" wrote

We are seeing a replay of the 20's and 30's. there's work on rocket
powered
air racing; the X-prize was won and Diamandis is working on another more
lofty (pun intended) goal. This is one way aviation technology leaped
ahead in the past, and how space technology may leap ahead in the future.
Note that these are private enterprises.

You have to be kidding! If you think that the present proposed rocket
racing is going to lead to new advances, you are badly out of touch with
reality.
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:


"Saville" wrote

We are seeing a replay of the 20's and 30's. there's work on rocket
powered
air racing; the X-prize was won and Diamandis is working on another more
lofty (pun intended) goal. This is one way aviation technology leaped
ahead in the past, and how space technology may leap ahead in the future.
Note that these are private enterprises.

You have to be kidding! If you think that the present proposed rocket
racing is going to lead to new advances, you are badly out of touch with
reality.

No I'm not kidding. You will see some technological advances from this sort
of activity - if it gets off the ground ;^)

And it may not be the present proposed rocket racing scheme, but the scheme
it leads to. Like - what if it leads to rocket XC races from coast to
coast? Or what if that leads to atmospheric skip races between this
continent and, say, Japan? Sanger skip vehicles is a 60-odd year idea. To
upgrade to a coast to coast race you have to improve reliability, for
example - something the Shuttle sorely lacks.

When people apply money and brainpower to an activity, good things can come
from it. They come up with better ways to do things in order to win. And
that leads to useful stuff for everyone.

Do I guarantee it in this case? No of course not. But what we are seeing
with stuff like the X-Prize is an example.

Best wishes

On Sat, 18 Feb 2006 08:41:54 -0500, Saville
wrote in ::


There's hope though:

We are seeing a replay of the 20's and 30's. there's work on rocket powered
air racing; the X-prize was won and Diamandis is working on another more
lofty (pun intended) goal. This is one way aviation technology leaped
ahead in the past, and how space technology may leap ahead in the future.
Note that these are private enterprises.


[Thanks for your input in the earlier thread]

Indeed, the 21st century is upon us:



X PRIZE CUP
http://www.xpcup.com/index.cfm
2006 X PRIZE CUP Week
October 16th - 22nd
TWO-Day Spaceflight Exposition
October 21st & 22nd



DIAMANDIS LAUNCHES ROCKET RACING LEAGUE
Premier Competition of 21st Century' Unveiled
http://www.rocketracingleague.com/me...nches-rrl.html
Rocket races will operate much like auto races, with the exception
that the "track" is up in the sky. Courses are expected to be
approximately two miles long, one mile wide, and about 5,000 feet
high, running perpendicularly to spectators. The rocket planes,
called X-Racers, will take off from a runway both in a staggered
fashion and side-by side and fly a course based on the design of a
Grand Prix competition, with long straight-aways, vertical
ascents, and deep banks. Each pilot will follow his or her own
virtual "tunnel" or "track" of space through which to fly, safely
separated from their competitors by a few hundred feet.

Highly skilled X-Racer pilots will employ state-of-the-art
differential GPS technology to ensure minimal chances of physical
contact between the racers.

Upon take-off, onlookers will easily follow the race as the rocket
planes remain in view and sport 20-foot rocket plumes. Fans can
also track their favorite pilots' progress via large screen
televisions and hand-held GPS tracking devices using WiFi to
stream video of the cockpit, live "on-track" shots, "side by side"
views and wing angle views.

Fans at home will be treated to a three-dimensional course where
the "tracks" pilots are following can be seen. Special effects for
lap completions, barrier violations and penalties will also be a
part of the show.



ROCKET RACING LEAGUE
http://www.rocketracingleague.com/
In addition to hosting independent race events worldwide, The
Rocket Racing League will exist as the primary race support and
hosting element of the X PRIZE Cup. The first race is planned for
September 2006 and will take place at the inaugural X PRIZE Cup
event in New Mexico.

About the X PRIZE CUP
Awarding the $10,000,000 ANSARI XPRIZE was not the end, but the
beginning of an annual event called the X PRIZE CUP. This is your
space program. The X Prize Foundation has created an event which
the public can attend in order to experience space and be a part
of the next generation of spaceflight. ...



The EZ Rocket
http://www.xcor.com/ez.html
The EZ-Rocket is a modified Long-EZ homebuilt aircraft. The
aircraft is powered by twin 400 lb thrust regeneratively cooled
rocket engines and fueled by isopropyl alcohol and liquid oxygen.



October 6, 2005
Rocket Planes, A New Era For Air Racing...
http://www.avweb.com/newswire/11_40b.../190717-1.html

....The Evolution Of X Prize...
http://www.avweb.com/newswire/11_40b.../190718-1.html



Rocket-Powered Air Races to Launch Next Year
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviatio...cbccdrcrd.html
The airplanes will initially be based on the XCOR Aerospace
EZ-Rocket, a modified Long-EZ (a homebuilt aerobatic airplane
designed by Burt Rutan) that has been used as a testing platform
for the XCOR corporation’s rocket technology. XCOR will upgrade
the engines to 1,500- to 1,800-pound liquid-oxygen and kerosene
motors that generate twice the thrust of the current 400-pound
liquid-oxygen- and alcohol-fueled motors, two of which power the
EZ-Rocket. Racing teams will be allowed to modify their vehicles
and introduce new technology to enhance performance—hence the
development potential for future space-tourist flights.

Although the X-Racers will carry enough fuel for only four minutes
of powered flight, the engines could be shut off and reignited
repeatedly during races, allowing the pilots to time their boosts
to critical moments and then coast down from their top speeds
until the boost was needed again.



‘Rocket racing league’ gets its start
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9572408
"It is nothing like NASCAR or Indy car," he told the journalists.
"It is 10 times louder."

"We're here because we see this as another means of making rocket
flight more tangible to the public. This is an opportunity to
introduce the power and thrill of rockets in the form of
high-velocity entertainment," Smith said. "Today's announcement
resurrects the great American tradition of air racing, wraps it in
the technology of the 21st century, and gives the nation a
thrilling glimpse of things to come, thanks to Peter Diamandis and
Granger Whitelaw. The Rocket Racing League is an atmospheric
showcase for the kind of rocket technology that will evolve in
time from spectator sport to citizen suborbital spaceflight."