NASA: expenses and delays

The loss of a satellite designated to measure the presence of CO2 in the atmosphere and to observe the climate change is just one of the recent failures of NASA In fact, the only happiness in the agency comes from the little Spirit. Although at the beginning it was though to last only four months, the infatigable robot continues sending valious information to Earth after five years. Just a few months ago he managed to survive a dust storm that almost deployed his batteries.

About any other project, it is better note even mentioning them. To the technical problems of the shuttles, we have to add now the financial crisis. And an Obama Administration willing to cut spending everywhere. Starting with the unnecessary. And obviously, space exploration is not necessary if there is no glory involved defeating another country in a race for national pride.

The Congress has already focus his attention in the space agency and is starting to ask for the average delay of 11 months in the projects. It is likely that launching the Discovery for once a day before than scheduled won’t change anything. Unless it is because another asteroid is about to knock on our doors.

There is as well the economic issue. Politicians are asking for the expenses to sum up the bill, because it doesn’t now. There is an average of 13% increase in the cost of the projects. Let’s give numbers: $1.1b. And even with all that expenditure, NASA won’t have any shuttles to go to the ISS (International Space Station) until -if there is no delay- at least, 2015. Even worse, during that time, the US will depend on the Russians for the space deployments to the ISS.

And all this comes just when the Chinese announce that they will launch their own space station. And that they will use it for military purpouses too.

At least these guys can use as excuse that what they do is indeed rocket science.





Photo: NASA/Lockheed Martin