Boeing guy wants Ares replaced with their rocket

Sounds like money-grubbing to me.

Michael C. Gass, who’s head of the United Launch Alliance—created and run by Boeing and Lockheed Martin—asked the panel reviewing NASA’s manned flight plans to consider using the Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle (coincidentally a produce of Boeing). And they want them to drop the Ares booster already well under development and in the process of being tested.

Everyone says they can do better

Gass claims the Delta would be safer, cheaper and could be deployed sooner. Gass didn’t mention a key point: the Delta couldn’t launch crews beyond earth orbit. And NASA’s objective is to return to the moon and go on to Mars.

So, it might be cheaper, safer and faster to deploy…but it’s also useless. Gass claims that his rocket could be updated to meet NASA’s goals. Ummm…what about other contractors? Why only your company?

Another group wanted to ditch Ares as being developed and use more components from the shuttle in a new launch vehicle. This, too, would save money we are told.

Lots of conflicts of interest…

The review panel is lead by Norman R. Augustine who, as the former CEO of Lockheed Martin, will probably recommend that Ares be scuttled in favor of something his former company could develop.

It was this kind of meddling that screwed up the design of the space shuttle in the 1970s. I fear we may be getting yet another camel when we need a racehorse.

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Another vehicle built by United Launch Alliance—an Atlas V—is scheduled to lift off today carrying Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (and other spacecraft) later today.