Think Tank Get Together at NASA HQ (seen on NASA Watch)

On 10 Jan, 14:19, Fred J. McCall wrote:
Ian Parker wrote:

:
:Nobody has yet discussed the essential ECONOMIC issues of COTS. These
:are globalization and flag. The easiest solution would simply be to
urchase Soyuz. Economics tells us that whatever the technology is,
:costs are reduced though economies of scale.
:

This is, in point of fact, a very bad idea unless your goal is to
subsidize the RUSSIAN space program with AMERICAN dollars.

:
:In fact Arianespace is doing just that.
:
:http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Ar...mmercialise_So...
:
:Why not enter a partnership with Arianespace?
:

Because it's essentially run by the French, who haven't precisely been
reliably our friends over the last half century, either?

Look what Arianespace did for the German and UK space programs
(essentially ended them - no Sanger and no HOTOL).

--
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable
*man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore,
*all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --George Bernard Shaw

This is exacltly what I am talking about. Commercial work is done on
the basis of a purchase from the cheapest source regardless of any
other consideration. That's the way the beast works. You are NOT
commercial if you are talking about the Russians and the French the
way you are.

Are we "subsidizing" the Russians? how? The Russians (and the French)
are putting a product into the marketplace. Look at the product, its
price and then decide whether to buy it or not. Soyuz may be for you
or it may not be.

Are the Russians "dumping". I don't know. If they are the buying Soyuz
is in fact taking money OUT of their coffers.

The way you talk I sometimes think you want us all to live in a siege
economy.


- Ian Parker