Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!cadnetix.COM!cadnetix!beres
From: beres@cadnetix.COM (Tim Beres)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: NASA ASRM production and testing sites announced
Message-ID: <3434@cadnetix.COM>
Date: 29 Jul 88 14:38:34 GMT
References: <12358@ames.arc.nasa.gov> <3417@cadnetix.COM> <12474@ames.arc.nasa.gov>
Sender: news@cadnetix.COM
Reply-To: beres@cadnetix.COM (Tim Beres)
Organization: Cadnetix Corp.,  Boulder, CO
Lines: 57

In article <12474@ames.arc.nasa.gov> eugene@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov.UUCP (Eugene N. Miya) writes:

>In article <3417@cadnetix.COM> beres@cadnetix.COM  (ME)
>> [paraphrasing myself...] Sure seems like a lot of NASA centers, all with
>> big projects.

>Anyway, we have this growth problem.  The diversity of applications and
>projects for space would probably grow exponentially.  What do you
>suggest we throw away? Manned space? unmanned space? microgravity?
>Human factors? (not saying this in a snide fashion, it's how we have to
>trim fat).  Throw away computer research [I know people who want this]?
>Research on fuels?  Materials? Space power systems? 

To clarify: I am not upset at growth in programs, per se, but at possible
savings that could accrue from centralizing administrative, facilities and
support functions.  As for applications and research, congress seems unable
to comprehend any of the justifications or the technology anyway; they just
see jobs/prestige/votes stemming from various facilities (NASA and otherwise).

>
>Speaking about centralization, perhaps we need more centralized
>rather than decentralized computer facilities.  Yeah that's the ticket!
>Ok, you guys, back to your punch cards.  None of this workstation stuff,
>If 1 person on a SUN is good, then 15 is 15x better.  Right?!

Get real, Eugene.  See comment below.

>More seriously, I was talking to Brad Hagar (Seimsologist and skier from
>Caltech) about the newly emerging concept of NSF "Centers without Walls."
>We may have to resort to this in NASA as well.

Now we're talking.  How about research and developement occuring in this
manner; build up and use university and corporate R&D centers - with a few
computing hubs.  Consolidate engineering and technology applications into
a few NASA centers.  I just wonder why it is necessary to launch from the
cape (used to live in Fla, too - so I do know the effects of greasing the
local economy with jobs/projects.  Rep. Nelson was 1 district over from me.
What he did for KSC and the local economy was good - but is it good for the
nation's space program?),  monitor/communicate from JSC, Marshall's in the
loop and who knows who else takes part in each Shuttle mission.  Why not
merge some of these facilities into larger facilities, with combined support
and resources.  The nature of the jobs they do won't change, they'll just
be under one roof.  

Thinking about this...no way congress will do it (assuming this *is* a good
idea - I'm open to persuasion).

>Another gross generalization from
>
>--eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@aurora.arc.nasa.gov

		Tim Beres

..words to memorize  words hypnotize  words make my mouth exercise  words all
fail the magic prize... -- VF
Tim Beres   Cadnetix, 5775 Flatirons Pkwy, Boulder, CO 80301  
            beres@cadnetix.com  {uunet,boulder,nbires}!cadnetix!beres