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idiom
07-15-2014, 07:26 PM
The Congressman for Lockheed Martin and a random congressman from Colorado are kicking up a fuss about Space X.

Space X who has been performing incredibly well at really low costs:

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/33/33db2137697cf8edf4cd616a2c089fa9036a9257a3b7416e08 a7b0d92fd361af.jpg

They get great applause from democrats but Republicans hate them because, apparently, only the government can operate safely in space. O.o

Anyways todays kerfuffle:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2014
Contact: Emily Hytha, 202-225-4676


Gardner Presses NASA for Transparency on SpaceX

Gardner and Coffman Send Letter Expressing Concern over Lack of Disclosure and Repeated Anomalies on Launch Vehicles


Washington, DC

Today, Congressman Coy Gardner (CO-04) and Congressman Mike Coffman (CO-06) sent a letter to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) expressing strong concerns over anomalies that have occurred on taxpayer-funded space launch vehicles, and the lack of public disclosure or transparency of these anomalies. The letter expresses concern over an epidemic of anomalies that have occurred during SpaceX launches or launch attempts, and communicates frustrations with NASA’s refusal to provide insight into those mishaps.

"In the interest of full disclosure and accountability to the American taxpayer, we request that NASA publicly release all anomalies and mishap information, un-redacted, so that Congress can gain a better understanding of what has occurred and ensure full transparency. Because the development of the vehicles and capsule in question were funded by NASA dollars, we request that you provide Congress with the information you have on the various aspects of risk and reliability from these programs, including contractual, management, technical, manufacturing, cost, schedule and safety," wrote Coffman and Gardner.

According to recent news reports, SpaceX launch attempts have resulted in wide ranging problems, including multiple helium leaks, loss of capsule control, multiple thruster issues, avionics issues, capsule contamination issues, and three consecutive seawater intrusions on ISS Cargo Resupply (CRS) missions. SpaceX contracted or planned 24 Falcon 9 flights for its NASA, DOD and commercial customers through 2013 and flew seven. They list approximately 30 flights for this year and next, yet have only flown three times.

"Because the vehicles in question were funded by American taxpayer dollars, there should be no issue making this report publicly available. This information is critical to Congress’ understanding of these programs and the associated risks," wrote Coffman and Gardner.

The letter to NASA can be found here (https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=CO04CG&crop=14268.5819475.5263066.7602914&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fgardner.house.gov%2fsites%2f gardner.house.gov%2ffiles%2f07.15.14%2520SpaceX%25 20Concerns.pdf).

###

Congressman Gardner is a member in the U.S. House of Representatives serving Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. He sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee and is a member of the following Subcommittees: Communications and Technology, Energy and Power, and Oversight and Investigations.


CONGRESSMAN CORY GARDNER

Link to the letter: https://coffman.house.gov/sites/coffman.house.gov/files/documents/07%2015%2014%20SpaceX%20Concerns%20%282%29.pdf

Hosting solution used in the original email: http://lmhostediq.com/


Why are Republicans so against free enterprise and American innovation?

Rhetorical.

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thebalancesheet/2014/07/15/coffman-gardner-ula-spacex/12189/

Kords21
07-15-2014, 07:47 PM
But, I thought Republicans were all about the free market and less gov't

GunnyFreedom
07-15-2014, 08:15 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU5g2I3tjyU

Matt Collins
07-15-2014, 09:47 PM
The letter claims SpaceX is taxpayer-funded? :confused:

CaseyJones
07-15-2014, 10:21 PM
The letter claims SpaceX is taxpayer-funded? :confused:

it is for projects its doing for the government

56ktarget
07-15-2014, 10:28 PM
This whole "private space program" is a farce. Govt and private industry have been linked since the early days of NASA.

GunnyFreedom
07-16-2014, 06:56 AM
This whole "private space program" is a farce. Govt and private industry have been linked since the early days of NASA.

and that's why algore invented the internet.

idiom
07-16-2014, 10:09 PM
The letter claims SpaceX is taxpayer-funded? :confused:

Space X is using different contracting terms to ULA. It allows them to sell at a fixed price.

ULA works on cost plus. They sell at 10% above any costs they can prove. Hence they have a lot of overhead dedicated to generating and accounting for as much cost as possible.

This is why Space X was able to develop and launch the Falcon 9 for a total of $300 Million when NASA estimated the traditional method would have come in at $3.2 Billion.

The congressman is advocating for a tonne of bureaucracy to be dropped on Space X, his motivations are a little transparent.


Of the Cost to develop and Launch Falcon 1, Space X stated that fully half of the cost was directly related to regulatory costs.

Ariane states that 90% of their launch costs have nothing to do with physically launching the rocket.

The entire industry is mired in red tape.

Origanalist
07-16-2014, 10:17 PM
and that's why algore invented the internet.

Dammit! I just used up my rep for you Gunny.

Origanalist
07-16-2014, 10:18 PM
Where's "Republican Guy"?

HOLLYWOOD
07-16-2014, 11:16 PM
I'll post later the facts after I confirm with Select Committee of Lockheed Martin, House Committee on General Dynamics, and the special council on Boeing.

All these sellouts whores on Capital Hill have their "Space Lobbyists"

XNavyNuke
07-17-2014, 05:59 AM
This whole "private space program" is a farce. Govt and private industry have been linked since the early days of NASA.

Of course, you mean NACA which evolved into NASA. Besides a true "private program" wouldn't be spending money on faking Apollo documentation.

XNN

Natural Citizen
07-17-2014, 06:36 AM
I'll post later the facts after I confirm with Select Committee of Lockheed Martin, House Committee on General Dynamics, and the special council on Boeing.

All these sellouts whores on Capital Hill have their "Space Lobbyists"

NASA was created through the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 and is a department of the executive branch which ultimately answers solely to the president of the United States. Although it is commonly accepted that NASA is a civilian agency accountable to the people it is a legal fact that the space agency was founded directly subordinated to the Department of Defense and tasked to specifically assist the national security of the country in the midst of the Cold War against the Soviet Union.

NASA is essentially a defense agency of the United States. That said, NASA’s 1958 Congressional charter specifically instructs ....
“Sec. 205 … (d) no [NASA] information which has been classified for reasons of national security shall be included in any [NASA] report made under this section [of the Act] …”


This is found in the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958.

I don't know if you've read any of my postings regarding what we are/will be seeing with various space programs around the world during these delicate times which are very similar in nature to what we saw in years passed but if not maybe do a quick forum search for "International Finance Clearing". You'll find relevance in what we are seeing now from the political pundits there in DC. We're due to see a lot of political nonsense spewed all over the place regarding NASA and various space programs both private and national so be very mindful that most of it comes from a bunch of keyoard jockeys and other various mainstream political editors who have absolutely no grasp in scope to relevance about what they are writing.