What is the Crew Exploration Vehicle supposed to be?

In article ,
Jon Berndt wrote:
another bit of current conventional wisdom that must be eradicated.

On a related note regarding crew and cargo launching, the Vision for Space
Exploration spells out an action to be taken:
"Separate to the maximum practical extent crew from cargo transportation to
the International Space Station and for launching exploration missions
beyond low Earth orbit;"

Yes, that was a very conventional-wisdom document in a number of ways.
Note that it says nothing much about improving even the cost of launches,
never mind their reliability.

Also, some people advocating such a separation have an ulterior motive:
they see little hope of prying control of manned spaceflight operations
away from NASA in the near future, but think that if the two roles are
separated, then NASA can probably be convinced to relinquish cargo
operations to private industry.
--
"Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend." | Henry Spencer
-- George Herbert |

On Mon, 2 Aug 2004 05:25:27 GMT, (Henry Spencer)
wrote:

NASA is out of the launch-vehicle business for
the moment, except for that nagging possibility that the KSC-MSFC-JSC axis

That's a weird axis. More like a croissant. :-)


Brian

"Henry Spencer" wrote in message
...
NASA is out of the launch-vehicle business for
the moment, except for that nagging possibility that the KSC-MSFC-JSC axis
will get its wish for continuing full employment in the form of a shuttle-
derived heavy-lift launcher.

Not everyone at KSC feels that way.

-Kim-

"Rand Simberg" wrote in message
nk.net...
Yes, there's no such thing as a "man-rated" air transport. This is
another bit of current conventional wisdom that must be eradicated.

There is, however, the airworthiness certificate issued to a manufacturer
upon successful completion of a test program that satisfies FAA
requirements. It is roughly analogous to "man-rating", in that the aircraft
cannot be operated without one.

-Kim-

"Andrew Gray" wrote in message
. ..
The specifications are intended to
allow for either Atlas or Delta launches, and presumably anything else
built to those mating specs (unlikely as that is).

That is not yet a requirement, though it was for the now-dead OSP program.
It is possible that requirement will not appear in the CEV program, although
CEV prototypes will likely fly on both vehicles.

-Kim-

Kim Keller wrote:

Yes, there's no such thing as a "man-rated" air transport. This is
another bit of current conventional wisdom that must be eradicated.


There is, however, the airworthiness certificate issued to a manufacturer
upon successful completion of a test program that satisfies FAA
requirements. It is roughly analogous to "man-rating", in that the aircraft
cannot be operated without one.

No, that is a completely different definition of man-rating. To the
space community, that term means a vehicle that *can* carry a human, not
one that must. An airworthiness certificate means that the aircraft is
capable of flying in public airspace, and has nothing to do with whether
or not it will have a pilot (thought the notion that an aircraft with
such a certificate wouldn't have a pilot would be a foreing concept to
most, includin the FAA).

Kim Keller wrote:

"Henry Spencer" wrote in message
...

NASA is out of the launch-vehicle business for
the moment, except for that nagging possibility that the KSC-MSFC-JSC axis
will get its wish for continuing full employment in the form of a shuttle-
derived heavy-lift launcher.


Not everyone at KSC feels that way.

That's nice to know, but it's not the same thing as "no one" at KSC
feels that way (including Congressman Weldon).

In article ,
Kim Keller wrote:
...except for that nagging possibility that the KSC-MSFC-JSC axis
will get its wish for continuing full employment in the form of a shuttle-
derived heavy-lift launcher.

Not everyone at KSC feels that way.

Quite true, but when KSC management decides the center's official position
on such things, it doesn't do it by secret ballot of the work force.
--
"Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend." | Henry Spencer
-- George Herbert |

"Henry Spencer" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Kim Keller wrote:
Not everyone at KSC feels that way.

Quite true, but when KSC management decides the center's official position
on such things, it doesn't do it by secret ballot of the work force.

We have a growing feeling that KSC management's "official position" on this
subject may not carry the weight it used to.

-Kim-

"Rand Simberg" wrote in message
nk.net...
That's nice to know, but it's not the same thing as "no one" at KSC
feels that way (including Congressman Weldon).

True, but the winds may very well be shifting, shuttle mafia and Weldon
notwithstanding.

-Kim-