NASA changes its contract arranged for commercial space
Turf war: At conference yesterday at the Johnson Space Center, NASA proposed changing how it issues its commercial space contracts so as to give it more control over their design and construction. The commercial companies are not happy.
Brett Alexander, a space industry consultant who counts among his clients the secretive aerospace startup Blue Origin of Kent, Wash., said at the July 20 briefing that industry needs to know NASA’s legal reasoning for dismissing SAAs as an option for the next CCDev round. “From an industry standpoint … we’re kind of flying blind because [NASA] has not divulged what its legal reasoning is, and I think they need to do that in writing. Not a couple charts, not things that you brief, but a legal brief that says ‘here’s why’” a traditional procurement is necessary.
My own sources say this change in contractual approach will significantly slow development of the new commercial manned space rockets and ships, possibly beyond 2017.
The only reason I can see for NASA to do this is to maintain control over manned space, even if they are not building anything. I think NASA is instead going to find out that doing anything to slow this development will be politically very dangerous for them.
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Turf war: At conference yesterday at the Johnson Space Center, NASA proposed changing how it issues its commercial space contracts so as to give it more control over their design and construction. The commercial companies are not happy.
Brett Alexander, a space industry consultant who counts among his clients the secretive aerospace startup Blue Origin of Kent, Wash., said at the July 20 briefing that industry needs to know NASA’s legal reasoning for dismissing SAAs as an option for the next CCDev round. “From an industry standpoint … we’re kind of flying blind because [NASA] has not divulged what its legal reasoning is, and I think they need to do that in writing. Not a couple charts, not things that you brief, but a legal brief that says ‘here’s why’” a traditional procurement is necessary.
My own sources say this change in contractual approach will significantly slow development of the new commercial manned space rockets and ships, possibly beyond 2017.
The only reason I can see for NASA to do this is to maintain control over manned space, even if they are not building anything. I think NASA is instead going to find out that doing anything to slow this development will be politically very dangerous for them.
In order to remain completely independent and honest in my writing, I accept no sponsorships from big space companies or any political organizations. Nor do I depend on ads.
Instead, I rely entirely on the generosity of readers to keep Behind the Black running. You can either make a one time donation for whatever amount you wish, or you sign up for a monthly subscription ranging from $2 to $15 through Paypal, or $3 to $50 through Patreon, or any amount through Zelle.
The best method to donate or subscribe is by using Zelle through your internet bank account, since it charges no fees to you or I. You will need to give my name and email address (found at the bottom of the "About" page). What you donate is what I get.
To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If these electronic payment methods don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
We should let the market work. If people want to abide by the restrictions in a NASA contract, bully for them. If not, there are several private companies that might be interested. If it takes deep cuts in the NASA budget to force them to realize that the days of government-monopolized space flight are coming to an end, then start cutting.
No “deep cuts in NASAs budget” are required to resolve the issue.
The solution is quite simple (and always has been). If the ‘Commercial’ Space Companies do not want the government oversight – Do not accept the government money.
> … I think NASA is instead going to find out that doing anything to slow this development will be
> politically very dangerous for them.
I disagree. I think this is in responce to political presure to downsize adn marginalize CCDev. Congres has been adament for years that they did not want CCDeve taken as a serious option for crew carry. Given the failure of the COTS contract to be cost competative even with shuttle, even after getting a lot of cost cuttingadvantages under SAA; its not unreasonable to lookfor a political out to CCDev – and certainly NASA must realize the high political risk to them if they actually flew anyone on CCDev and had any problem.
Given the failure of the COTS contract to be cost competative even with shuttle,….
Seriously?
Cost of COTS $3.5B for 6 years.
Shuttle $18B for 6 years.
The figures given at the House hearing were fudged. Max load for shuttle (excluding MPLM)
Minimum load for Commercial AND assuming shuttle only gets to fly twice and not the 3-4 monthly supply missions of commercial resupply.
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