Problems at NASA

An internal NASA report leaked to www.nasawatch.com this week documents financial and technical problems with the development of the launch system and spacecraft that are to replace the space shuttle. NASA had been informally aiming for a first flight of the new ship in 2013, but now that will likely be pushed back to the official target of 2015.

The report lists several technical problems that have yet to be solved. Of course, as NASA points out, we are still several years from the first flight of a completely new system. Technical problems at this stage are to be expected. More troubling is the financial situation. Some analysts outside the agency argue NASA is being tasked to accomplish a complex mission with inadequate funding. Apollo was a priority of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and NASA was funded so that it could develop its spacecraft properly. Even then, however, the Apollo 1 fire cost three lives and forced a substantial redesign of the command module before Apollo was ready to carry out its historic mission.

Congress needs to do its job. If it wants a new manned spacecraft, it should fund the program to allow NASA to develop systems that are as reliable and robust as possible. If Congress insists NASA proceeds on what may be inadequate budgets, the billions of wasted dollars, if the effort finally fails, and the blood of any people lost in the attempt will be the responsibility of Capitol Hill.