From: Frank Thomas Buzzard
Tuesday, November 12, 2013 5:06 PM
To: Little, Dave (Comcast); Charles E. Hoffman; WALLY LUTHER; BILL BUCKELS; Charles Limerick; Mike Pena; Dave Dickenson; Dave Cochran; Tom Little; Chris Little; Dick Tyler; Lloyd Long; Bob Quinn; Torres, George; Steege, Wayne; Moore, Steven (Elkton); Hoskin, Rick; Bob Simms
Cc: Johnson Gary; Gerstenmaier Bill; Buzzard Patrick; Maddocks Robert; Bejmuk Bo; Brinkley Randy
Subject: Re: Fwd: Gerst's newseum charts
First, I admire and respect Bill Gerstenmaier. He is one of the finest System Engineers I have known. Now having said that, I don't admire NASA's vision and asteroid lassoing mission for the future of US Space Exploration. Why?
Comments from the Retired NASA Chief Engineer Space Shuttle and ISS.
1. No discussion or acknowledgement of AFFORDABLE for the SLS new rocket in Gerstenmaier's pitch. Yes it is doable. Yes we have the technology. Yes we can develop it at great cost, but How can flying once or twice per year (tops) be an affordable space transportation system?
2. In my humble opinion, Human sampling or dragging an asteroid to Earth/Moon space is a Stunt, not a strategy for developing the infrastructure, technology, and vision to expand into our solar system.
3. Returning to the Moon to learn how to sustain human presence on another planet (Earth Orbit to Lunar orbit resupply using ion engine or nuclear engine stage transportation infrastructure development is crucial) and learn how to live off the land (Insitu resource utilization) is a strategy, a technology driver, and a necessary precursor to going to Mars.
4. Using the ISS as a transportation node (aka St. Louis, MO to build, supply, and form the wagon trains before proceeding to CA and Oregon) is a critical and correct strategy to return to the Moon or Mars. NASA has no plan to use ISS as a transportation node for deep space exploration.
None of these seem to be in NASA's vision. Wonder what I am missing here?
FTB
Frank Thomas Buzzard
Sent from my iPad
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