Our current space shuttle is an antique design now. NASA estimates that there is a 1-in-100 chance of a catastrophic failure every time it flies. Each launch costs $500 million dollars.
NASA has been struggling to develop a long over due replacement. After spending millions of dollars and several years of research following their traditional development model, they have little more than artist renderings and colorful chart presentations to show for it.
Why DeLay? Keep Reading
The new administrator at NASA wants to follow a different course of development and procurement. Instead of operating under the current, grossly bloated cost plus model, he wants to enact a more innovative development model. Currently, a handful of traditional, large, politically connected contractors such as Lockheed, Boeing and Northrop Grumman get deals that have little incentive to deliver products on time and in budget. NASA administrator Michael Griffin has put in place a pilot project that instead would allow smaller, innovative technology start up companies to handle design development. These companies are only paid once they have reached a milestone and can demonstrate successful hardware.
From Wired News
In Griffin's so-called nontraditional approach, which the administrator says is really a traditional business model, contractors will be paid only for successful hardware demonstrations, called "milestones," along the path toward finishing a project -- say, a new spaceship. NASA won't have to pay for a given test if it proves unsuccessful; the contractor will assume the financial risk rather than NASA. NASA will also award development contracts on a fixed-price basis, preventing the cost overruns common in its traditional approach. After the new ship is completed, NASA will enter service contracts to use it, in effect chartering spaceships instead of buying them.
Now, how does Delay figure in to this? Well Tom Delay, with NASA Johnson Space center in his district, (not to mention corporate buddies to keep happy) is fighting hard to keep the current system of multi billion dollar cost plus contracts. He is also working to insure the money flow that pours into the current shuttle design stays that way rather than being diverted to new, more efficient replacement spacecraft.
DeLay assured shuttle contractors in March, The space shuttle is now and will remain for the foreseeable future the hinge on which Earth's future in space will pivot. From Wired News, "DeLay and other staunch shuttle boosters in Congress remain un-swayed by the current grounding of the shuttle fleet and concerns about its safety."
So, in summary, as part of this Republican Administrations continued regressive approach to scientific innovation and their love affair with crony capitalism, we are spending billions of dollars on an outdated, dangerous, inefficient shuttle. We are also losing the opportunity to foster a creative, entrepreneurial technology development program that could help revitalize a part of our domestic science and technology sectors. We are missing out on an opportunity to do what we Americans do best, dream big and reach for the stars. We are also allowing other nations an opportunity to eclipse us in a sector we have enjoyed a tremendous lead in.