Monte Davis wrote:
om (awavey) wrote:

that will always produce a conflict where an issue that has to be
resolved technically, has to be decided by someone whose view might well be
more focussed on a balance sheet or a delivery date

That's the real world. Whether at NASA or a corporation, the only
engineering issues that can be resolved purely "technically" are the
ones for which the total cost, and the cost and schedule deltas
between alternatives, are modest.

One of the most striking things about discussions of space is the
widespread disconnect between the ugly real world of aerospace
engineering and an imagined, beautiful "how it oughta be" where the
engineers always get to do everything right without any interference
from managers, Congress (for NASA) or investors (for private
ventures).



I think you are missing a layer between Congress and NASA and investors
and private spaceflight ventures that share a similar function in which
dollars get converted into technical accomplishments. Those elements
consist of project management and technical talent.

Eric



Monte Davis
http://montedavis.livejournal.com