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Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re:  loncrete
Message-ID: <6361@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Feb-86 12:25:14 EST
Article-I.D.: utzoo.6361
Posted: Wed Feb  5 12:25:14 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 5-Feb-86 12:25:14 EST
References: <8602031911.AA16591@ji.berkeley.edu>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 49

> Can someone please explain to me why we can't go to the moon before the
> year 2000? ... we did it in seven years despite a major tragedy that stopped
> the program for a year.  Now.  The engineering is done.  The Apollo/Saturn
> design is proven technology.  Granted the production lines have to be re-tooled
> to do it, I still can't undertand why we can't go to the Moon again in five
> years.  Anybody?

Because the engineering was done, but is now GONE.  We could not build a
Saturn V today:  all the specialized tooling is gone, and so are most of
the detailed plans and specifications.  We could build something that would
look a lot like a Saturn V, but the imitation would not be accurate enough
that we could trust lives to the old calculations and test results... so
we'd have to start almost from scratch.

If you think this is a national disgrace, I agree.

NASA also is no longer equipped to launch Saturn Vs; much of the KSC support
equipment has been rebuilt for the Shuttle.  Either it would have to be
un-rebuilt, sacrificing a good bit of the Shuttle launch capability, or
new facilities would have to be built from scratch.  Things like the tracking
network would similarly have to be rebuilt.  New personnel would have to be
trained, and so forth.

And on top of all this, Apollo was done when NASA was young and vigorous.
Hardening of the arteries has set in.  To quote Del Tischler, original head
of NASA's propulsion effort:

	[NASA] evolved into what I call management by concurrence.
	The distinguishing characteristic of management by concurrence
	is that approval is necessary at every level of the management
	chain, and at several levels of political support, before
	anything can be done.  Management by concurrence enabled NASA
	to use its organization and full array of management techniques
	to study, define, review, restudy, rereview, and ultimately to
	defer the many mission prospects open to it...

	...I personally and single-handedly wrote the request for
	proposal and specifications for the F-1 engines used in the
	Saturn V vehicle in one continuous 24-hour period, then reviewed
	them with contractors the following morning.  Within the next
	three months several contractors made proposals, which were
	evaluated by NASA personnel, a selection made, a major development
	contract signed and the work started.  Now even minor space
	projects are contemplated for years, and held in abeyance for
	lack of funds for additional years before approval to proceed,
	which may never come...
-- 
				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
				{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry