NASA Snafu

[busterb]

I read this on myway, I think.
The $110 million mission, classified as high-risk because of its automated controls and low budget. Thats just part of clip
Story here

[xoxoxoBruce]

One small step for man.
One giant leap for Dr Evil.

I wonder how much of the 110 million is for the craft and how much to get it up there? Pretty impressive to hit a target that small waaaaaay up there.

[wolf]

"The mission as designed, when it runs out of gas, completes itself."

Is that newspeak for "It blows itself up for security reasons into itty bitty pieces you can't pick out of space with a tweezer?"

[OnyxCougar]

Yup. and that portion of the program was a couple million, at least.

[tw]

Originally Posted by OnyxCougar

Yup. and that portion of the program was a couple million, at least.

The Rover missions to Mars cost about $180 million. They were so successful that NASA asked for another $15million to operate both Rovers for another 18 months. But since the Man to Mars mission is soaking up money everywhere, the Rover mission had to fight for that $15 million and may be terminated after those 18 months.

Amazing how little cost in real science but how difficult it is when competing against 'glory' missions.

When does the Darpa Grand Challenge race again?

I have since forgotten the exact numbers. But by 2010(?), the military must replace 40% of its people with autonomous machines. That means, for example, a supply convoy of robot trucks is lead by only two humans.

I wonder if that space robot was designed (again) using feet instead of meters. 'Uhhps there goes another hundred million bucks.'

[tw]

Originally Posted by wolf

Is that newspeak for "It blows itself up for security reasons into itty bitty pieces you can't pick out of space with a tweezer?"

Never blow anything up in earth orbit. Just a paint chip can shatter the shuttle windshield. Littering in space (even a cigarette butt) can have deadly consequences.