Mon, Jun 23, 2008
Aero-News: Quote of the Day
ANN's Quote of the Day usually
derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick
quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and
issues.
Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the
content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be
thought-provoking.
Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if
particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become
future Quotes of the Day.
Let us hear from you, folks!
Aero-News Quote of the Day
"A lot of us turned to this [Direct] because we realized
Ares is not going to fly. . . . Based on the ground rules placed
upon NASA by Congress -- that as much of the shuttle system as
possible needed to be used -- Direct is the best
solution."
Source: An anonymous NASA contractor working on
the Constellation program at Kennedy Space Center, regarding an
alternative to NASA's Ares rocket system now under development.
Called Direct 2.0, or the Jupiter 120, the program actually began
life as NASA's own work back in 1986 as a concept to restart the
space program after the loss of Challenger. Conceived by Marshall
Space Flight Center, Direct had the capability of launching
unmanned cargo, and even potentially a restarting an Apollo
spacecraft program. Though the plan was officially shelved, rocket
enthusiasts and engineers, including several working for NASA, have
picked up the project in their spare time. Supporters point to the
simplicity of Direct's design as a way to reduce the projected
five-year gap in US manned spaceflight once the shuttle's 2010
retirement happens... but NASA is sticking with Ares, despite
evidence of significant design flaws.
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