posted
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA underestimated costs and failed to grasp the complexity of the International Space Station program, resulting in $4 billion of extra expense and changes to the project that have crippled the outpost's scientific promise.
That's the conclusion of a special report published in today's editions of FLORIDA TODAY newspaper, whose circulation area includes the Kennedy Space Center.
FLORIDA TODAY's space team spent the past few months reviewing more than 1,000 pages of documents, many obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, to determine where the money went and why the cost overruns happened in the first place.
Contract changes, ignored warnings, program delays, mistakes and optimism are all cited as contributors to the problem in the series of reports that includes a history of the space station program and reaction from scientists.
"The story of the International Space Station is one of big money, hardball politics, evasive tactics, technological roadblocks and wide-eyed brilliance. It is a tale of a fallen kingpin, clever strategists, and youthful heroes who have kept the explorers' dreams alive," FLORIDA TODAY writes.
Defending the program, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin told FLORIDA TODAY, "Could we have done better in estimating the end cost? Maybe... I make no apologies, zip, nada, nothing. This program is spectacular."
posted
I think every advancements in human history require some form of sacrifice, and if we ever want to gain a "permanent beach-head" into space, then ISS is a must.
I think histroy will prove the significance of ISS even when it's about to be over-budgeted, or behind schedule.
[ June 17, 2001: Message edited by: BlueElectron ]
-------------------- "George Washington said, 'I cannot tell a lie.' Richard Nixon said, 'I cannot tell the truth.' Bill Clinton said, 'I cannot tell the difference.'"
-- comedian TOM SMOTHERS, from his latest stage act with brother DICK SMOTHERS.
posted
What's the point of the first post, anyway? That there have been enough blunders along the road to Alpha to build a big thing entirely out of blunders? Well, duh. What on (or in near orbit of) Earth does that have to do with any potential future value of the station?
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
If they don't build it just because of something as nonsensical as 4 billion dollars, then they'll do humanity a great disservice, but with republicans in power, what can you expect?
-------------------- Me- Hi Jen! What's up! Jen- You again??!?! Listen kid, I'm not interested in you. Stop bothering me, I'm a lot older than you and I have a boyfriend. How did you find my ICQ number anyways? Me- Oh, so just cuz you're a movie star now, and you're new album made millions, you think you're too good for me? Jen- Yes!!! Get it thorough your head! I am a person, I am not Jennifer Lopez the hottest woman on earth that everyone wants to sleep with, I'm a person, leave me alone!!! Me- Fine! Be that way! Me- Jen.... Where'd you go.... I love you... please come back.... please....
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Oh, I support the program (most of the time), I just thought it was an interesting article since so many people seem to be criticizing the ISS these days. It's also interesting to note that NASA ranked third or fourth on the government mismanagement list due to the ISS and the two Mars probes that disappeared.
-------------------- "Sometimes I think I might like to be evil and all, but that's not the way to think, 'ya know?" -AA, from IRC on March 3rd, 2001
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
Apollo 1 caught fire and killed three people. Yet we still made it to Apollo 11 and landed people on the moon. Cock-ups are a learning experience, a way to improve on the next go-around. They're not a reason to simply give up.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Lose a probe to Mars go on a mismanaged list...where's the justice in that.
-------------------- Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war. ~ohn Adams
Once again the Bush Administration is worse than I had imagined, even though I thought I had already taken account of the fact that the Bush administration is invariably worse than I can imagine. ~Brad DeLong
You're just babbling incoherently. ~C. Montgomery Burns
Registered: Mar 1999
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