What? who said that?
Bob Axsom said:
Now for the uncalled for side track NASA slam:
There are brilliant young people coming into the space exploration and they will not be denied no matter what entrenched "take no risk" management obstruction stands in their way. They are smart enough and competent enough to get the job done. They are in NASA and especially in JPL because they must be at the leading edge of space exploration to achieve what they want to, no, are driven to achieve. Burt Rutan's efforts are simply too antiquated and basic to achieve the things that are important to the expansion of human knowledge. Bob Axsom
WhooooAaaa, What the whisky tango foxtrot. I think I have failed to communicate or touched on a sore subject with a few. Who slammed NASA, not me. Bob, are you making a back handed remark about me? Read it again. As far as Burt Rutan you all missed the point. Relax.
If you think or are saying any mention of NASA making mistakes and its affect on public opinion is a "slam", than I would respectfully say that it's fair criticism and not a slam. Bob, with your back ground you have the ability to think critically with out emotion based on facts. NASA is great and should be supported by our government IMHO. What don't you understand about that?
Now read what I wrote again. Any characterization that my comments showed anything but awe, marvel, respect and pride in what the US, Space industry, NASA and NASA space crews have achieved is false, dear Sir. You will not find many people who support US space exploration and specifically NASA more than I. We need a new space and launch vehicles (fact); we need to spend money and start now (fact); that is not a slam, and I know the people who can do it are at NASA. However new thinking and innovation (Like spaceship 1) will be needed. I never said Spaceship One was a replacement for the Shuttle or NASA. What are you talking about?
It is like a red cape in front of a Bull, even mentioning Burt Rutan. He is brilliant, sorry, just my opinion. That in no way reduces NASA or should it threaten them. THE POINT: Innovation LIKE what Burt Rutan did with SpaceShip1 is needed, that's all. My point is the government and public is not AS willing to support NASA and space exploration. Like it or not, it is true, BUT IT IS NOT AN OPINION I SHARE. Geeeeeeezzz.
I don't want privatized space companies, BUT get this BOB, NASA is calling for the private sector to pick up space exploration (funding). I doubt that will happen unless there is a business plan to make money. May be it's wishful thinking of those in the government speaking for NASA? I don't know. If my NASA job was on the line I would be upset for sure. I think all americans should be upset with that more than making pilots pay to file, which sill P's me off.
Last you called Spaceship 1 "antiquated". That is well beyond my understanding. Yes it was simplistic, cheap and not practical for anything other than winning the X-prize, but it was a milestone. May be you can explain what you mean Bob, off line. Since Robert Goddard, Hermann Oberth, Stuhlinger and Von Braun there has not been many NEW things in the physics of escaping earth's gravity. Rocket engines Pratt makes, have been around with little change for a long time.
If you want to get into a debate about the talents of young Engineer's, no doubt we have the best and brightest in the world.
However your comment that they will succeed despite management, is not a rousing endorsement. Unfortunately the USA is loosing the technical edge in the world and that's a fact and whole other debate my friend. Government supports private companies contracting out (out sourcing) to other countries for technical people, fact, and we have to deal with that. Although Von Braun was "contracted out". Some companys claim they have to go outside because there are not enough qualified engineers? Hmmmm may be qualified engineers willing to work for minimum wage.
Bob, my dear Sir it's not the same as it was back in the day. The mighty dollar rules and space will always be dangerous and expensive. The world has changed and companies would rather hire an engineer half away around the world for 1/3rd the cost, and the government supports this exporting. I consulted to Pratt & Whitney for 4 months. The out sourcing, contracting was so extreme I could not believe it. The project had me working with another company, Pratt hired (contracted), and that company contractred out some analysis once again.
It would have been easier for me to just do it myself. I had to teach them HOW to do it. If a young person asked me if they should get into aerospace engineering I would have a hard time telling them "go for it". I got out of engineering, but still get calls from job shops to do engineering consulting.
No offense I LOVE NASA and anything to do with flight.
Have a nice Thanksgiving Bob. George
