[Kosh]

I think this says a lot about the state of NASA

In the wake of the recent departure of astronaut Garrett Reisman from NASA to work for SpaceX, the necessity of the National Academies review, started this past December, to determine the of the number of astronauts that NASA needs should be called into question. Reisman is but one of many space fliers that have left NASA within the past year in what some might describe as a mass exodus from the nation’s astronaut corps.

The veteran astronauts that have left NASA recently include Dom Gorie, Marsha Ivens, Jose Hernandez and Alan Poindexter. NASA has lost an astronaut at the rate of approximately one every two months. Many have left after the crew of the final shuttle mission, STS-135, was announced. While plans for new rockets and spacecraft are on the drawing boards, it may be some time before NASA is launching anyone into space.

At least they are going private, which will be helpful to develop the industry.

My favorite part:

Currently, NASA has a number of different proposals of what should follow the shuttle program, which is set to end this June when the shuttle Atlantis touches down for its final “wheelstop.” After that, the U.S. will become dependent on Russia for transportation to the International Space Station (ISS). This places NASA in an uncomfortable, if all-too familiar position, as it has had to rely on Russian Soyuz spacecraft after the Columbia disaster in 2003. Russia has recently announced that seats aboard its Soyuz spacecraft will increase; it will now cost the United States $56 million each.

Hahahahaha. A very shrewd move on their part.


EDIT: Fixed title spelling.

[Mika]

Russia has recently announced that seats aboard its Soyuz spacecraft will increase; it will now cost the United States $56 million each.

Well well well, that's just typical Russian business standard. As in: "We have altered the deal, pray that we don't alter it any further"

I think all astronauts are free to hop in to a different company, despite NASA educating them. Since NASA does not have a realistic contingency plan for manned space flights in near future, the astronauts switch to somewhere where they see possibilities of getting same work. Can't blame them for thinking about that.

In the earlier thread about Discovery, some reasons behind the current state of affairs inside NASA surfaced. This isn't a surprising move, I think it is rather impressive they have already stayed as long as they have with NASA.

[Nuke]

id rather see those astronauts become consultants and test pilots for the commercial space industry. virgin galactic is going to need pilots, and someone is going to have to test fly the spacex dragon at some point, and when that is off the ground they will continue to need regular pilots.

[Luis Dias]

It's no darth vader stunt. It's basics economics. Less supply, same demand, more expensive. Capitalist america should not play the victim .

[Nuke]

all the more reason to invest in the private space industry.

[Kosh]

Russia has recently announced that seats aboard its Soyuz spacecraft will increase; it will now cost the United States $56 million each.

Well well well, that's just typical Russian business standard. As in: "We have altered the deal, pray that we don't alter it any further"

I think all astronauts are free to hop in to a different company, despite NASA educating them. Since NASA does not have a realistic contingency plan for manned space flights in near future, the astronauts switch to somewhere where they see possibilities of getting same work. Can't blame them for thinking about that.

In the earlier thread about Discovery, some reasons behind the current state of affairs inside NASA surfaced. This isn't a surprising move, I think it is rather impressive they have already stayed as long as they have with NASA.

Actually the reason it was altered was because they know NASA doesn't really have a choice. The ESA doesn't have any man rated rockets, so that only leaves China which isn't going to happen for political reasons. Also thanks to NASA's bungling a potential shuttle replacement is years away, if ever.

all the more reason to invest in the private space industry.

Which IMO should have been done 20 years ago. Better late than never I suppose.

[Mongoose]

Did anyone else read this title and think about the crazy stalker astronaut with the adult diapers?

[Mika]

It's no darth vader stunt. It's basics economics. Less supply, same demand, more expensive. Capitalist america should not play the victim

I don't think you know the full extend of this yet...

Private space industry, think about it! In fourty years, resources of a nation were required to get to orbit, nowadays there are private companies doing the same.

[newman]

When you're the only game in town, you control the price. It's that simple, the US should be pretty familiar with the concept. If they don't like hitching rides with the Russians, then maybe they should, oh I don't know, have a solution of their own in place after the shuttle is retired?
Seriously though it's good private sector space flight is making progress. It's pretty sad to see the shuttle go.

[Mika]

When you're the only game in town, you control the price. It's that simple, the US should be pretty familiar with the concept

I'm familiar with this. What I'm saying is that NASA is probably up for a surprise in long term contracts with Russia...

[Unknown Target]

You know, with that in mind, this may not be a bad thing. It encourages cooperation between the two countries.

[Luis Dias]

You know, with that in mind, this may not be a bad thing. It encourages cooperation between the two countries.

Specially the "bending over" and the "easy with the rocket there" parts.

J/k