Push Back on MSL Cuts
Push Back on MSL Cuts
Budget Axe Falls on Mars Science Laboratory — Science Plans for the Mission Cut, Planetary Society
“The loss to science on MSL seems out of proportion,” said Wesley T. Huntress, Jr., former NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and member of the Society’s Board of Directors. “The goal of MSL is to conduct science, and to throw out so much of the mission science objectives for less than 4 percent of the mission cost, and for assurance costs that have net yet been realized, seems penny-wise and pound-foolish,” he added.”
Editor’s note: OK Wes: where’s the additional money supposed to come from? This is a zero sum game. To write a check for a mission that is out of the cost box means taking something away from another mission that planned ahead. Isn’t it about time to instill some cost realism - and responsibility - into this process?