Why is NASA developing a supersonic jet?

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   jackclee lmposted 8 years ago

   Just curious. Why is NASA building a supersonic jet when their mandate is to explore space?
   Why don't they build a replacement for the Space Shuttle?

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      jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Here is the article -
      http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest- … rsonic-jet

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      Credence2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I don't know, but I want NASA back, whole. Someone was talking about a return to the Moon by 2020. But that seems a bit ambitious as we don't yet have a replacement for the shuttle. There is talk about a Mars landing during the 2030s. The problem is that there is too much talk, and too little commitment. Where is the JFK style of setting a goal in the pursuit of space objective with the plan to see it through, and everybody committed to making it happen?
      
      We might share the goal of making NASA great again.

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         jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Credence2, I am with you on that. I am just questioning why NASA is engaged in some projects that are clearly outside it's mandate...
         It seems to be a common theme with many of our federal agencies... For example, the EPA involved with climate change... when NOAA is the primary agency.

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         Live to Learnposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         100% behind that idea.

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            jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Here is another story that makes you wonder ???
            http://spacenews.com/38626new-mandates- … -missions/

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               Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               Ask Robert Lightfoot.
               
               I'm done here. Have fun.

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   wildernessposted 8 years ago

   Is a supersonic (or more likely a hypersonic) jet the first step in a vehicle to go to space and come back without using giant (and expensive) boosters?

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      jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Here is what Senator Cruz comment -
      Cruz, March 12: As we begin the process of putting together a roadmap for the future of NASA, there is one vital question that this committee should examine: Should NASA focus primarily inwards, or outwards beyond lower Earth orbit. Since the end of the last administration we have seen a disproportionate increase in the amount of federal funds that have been allocated to the earth science program at the expense of and in comparison to exploration and space operations, planetary science, heliophysics and astrophysics, which I believe are all rooted in exploration and should be central to the core mission of NASA. … I am concerned that NASA in the current environment has lost its full focus on that core mission.

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         Will Apseposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Why don't you just come out and say it?
         
         NASA is government funded, therefore suspect.
         NASA has an awful lot of very bright people working for it, therefore suspect
         NASA has done more than any other organisation to help the world understand global warming...
         
         Therefore it is evil.

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            jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            What I am asking is why are some agencies conducting research and business outside their main mandate?
            We see more and more projects cross agencies that overlap in their coverage.
            Why have individual agencies if they are free to conduct research in other areas?
            
            Is is a duplication of effort, or worst, a dilution of talent...

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               Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               You want to eliminate NASA? The supersonic plane is part of their main mission and mandate,  as I already explained. Duplication is seen in the USAF and private companies, but NASA and USAF work together.

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                  jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  No that is not what I am saying.
                  I am just questioning there focus?
                  why are they focusing on supersonic flights when they should be focusing on space flights?
                  It is a fair question, no?

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                     Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     No it is not. NASA is focused equally on both, with a large contingent of workers/staff and all the people in the Commercial Crew partnerships (hundreds of companies) working on both. Very big.  Many in my state.

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                        jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                        Why???

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                           Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                           Why not ask the director of NASA, himself? Mr. Lightfoot, acting director now, will answer you. His email is on the site.

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                              jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                              Thanks, I will.
                              Here is what I saw on their website -
                              https://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/index.html
                              
                              This was not in their mandate initially.

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                                 Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                 I explained their mandates, you choose to ignore them.

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                                    jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                    Where is this mandate you speak of?
                                    It was not in the initial creation of NASA...
                                    Can you just make up your own mandate???

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                                       Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                       The mission statement with the timeline of mandates (Congressional Bills) is not on the website. That's not good for the public. Why hide it, they ask. Ask Mr. Lightfoot about it. See if his answer matches what the USAF and NASA has told us. If not, then a problem probably exists.

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                                       Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                       You'd have to look through Congressional Bills to find the mandates. I have them, because I write about this for aerospace courses.

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                                 jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                 Here is one section taken from "What NASA Do" ---
                                 
                                 "We're studying Earth right now through current and future spacecraft helping answer critical challenges facing our planet: climate change, sea level rise, freshwater resources and extreme weather events.
                                 
                                 NASA's aeronautics team is working with other government organizations, universities, and industry to fundamentally improve the air transportation experience and retain our nation's leadership in global aviation."

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                                 jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                 The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (Pub.L. 85–568) is the United States federal statute that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Act, which followed close on the heels of the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik, was drafted by the United States House Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration and on July 29, 1958 was signed by President Eisenhower.[1][2] Prior to enactment, the responsibility for space exploration was deemed primarily a military venture, in line with the Soviet model that had launched the first orbital satellite. In large measure, the Act was prompted by the lack of response by a US military infrastructure that seemed incapable of keeping up the space race.
                                 
                                 The original 1958 act charged the new Agency with conducting the aeronautical and space activities of the United States "so as to contribute materially to one or more of the following objectives:"
                                 
                                 The expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space;
                                 The improvement of the usefulness, performance, speed, safety, and efficiency of aeronautical and space vehicles;
                                 The development and operation of vehicles capable of carrying instruments, equipment, supplies and living organisms through space;
                                 The establishment of long-range studies of the potential benefits to be gained from, the opportunities for, and the problems involved in the utilization of aeronautical and space activities for peaceful and scientific purposes.
                                 The preservation of the role of the United States as a leader in aeronautical and space science and technology and in the application thereof to the conduct of peaceful activities within and outside the atmosphere.
                                 The making available to agencies directly concerned with national defenses of discoveries that have military value or significance, and the furnishing by such agencies, to the civilian agency established to direct and control nonmilitary aeronautical and space activities, of information as to discoveries which have value or significance to that agency;
                                 Cooperation by the United States with other nations and groups of nations in work done pursuant to this Act and in the peaceful application of the results, thereof; and
                                 The most effective utilization of the scientific and engineering resources of the United States, with close cooperation among all interested agencies of the United States in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort, facilities, and equipment.[3]
                                 In 2012, a ninth objective was added: "The preservation of the United States preeminent position in aeronautics and space through research and technology development related to associated manufacturing processes."[4]
                                 
                                 
                                 The final meeting of the NACA, before being absorbed into NASA.

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                                    Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                    I have no respect for Wikipedia. I respect the info from USAF and NASA we receive.

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                                       jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                       If you have any info that contradict what is shown at wikipedia, I'll be happy to reconsider.
                                       
                                       There is a term called "mission creep" which applies to many organizations.
                                       They seem to think they have a right to do stuff that may be related to what they were created to do even though they were not equiped to do so, and other agencies may be better at it...

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                                          Will Apseposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                          Going back to the Cruz quote. That is the politics of greed.
                                          
                                          The oil industry pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into republican super pacs and campaign funds with every electoral cycle.
                                          
                                          Cruz is currently chief lobbyist for the industry.
                                          
                                          The biggest obstacle to the continued dominance of fossil fuels is the overwhelming evidence that they cause harmful climate change.
                                          
                                          NASA supplies much of the evidence through its earth science programs.
                                          
                                          Therefore the way forward for Cruz is to cripple NASA's earth science research.
                                          
                                          Bottom line: the hundreds of millions of dollars from the oil industry is a political investment aimed at subverting science, perpetuating a dangerous and, soon to be unnecessary, industry in order to make a small number of people very, very rich.

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                                             jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                             Will,
                                             Have you ever consider the oil industry may not be the evil greedy corp. you seem to portray?
                                             The climate change debate is at the root of many fronts...
                                             NASA and the EPA are two examples. They have no business or mandate to study climate change...
                                             It is the job of NOAA.
                                             The claim of climate change as caused by humans is up for debate...
                                             Not all scientists are convinced we are the main cause or that we can affect change in any way...
                                             Just read up on the many issues and debates...
                                             I for one at this moment is a skeptic. I have been to many talks at the Lamont Dogherty observatory.
                                             The science is not clear and the scientists are not sure of many long term effects...
                                             Keep an open mind.

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                                                Will Apseposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                                NASA studies the atmosphere as one of its mandates. You ain't going to conquer the cosmos unless you understand the one planetary atmosphere we currently have access to.
                                                
                                                As to oil companies being evil...
                                                
                                                Most people in the industry realize that they are doing harm and before Trump, oil was preparing for a wind down. Sensible enough.
                                                
                                                Now it will be noses in the trough for another a few decades, it seems. Despite being aware of the harm.
                                                
                                                From a few months ago:
                                                
                                                Rex Tillerson, chief executive, said Exxon backed the push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that applying a cost to carbon was the best way of doing it.
                                                
                                                Exxon is under investigation in New York on suspicion that it violated US securities laws by withholding information about the risks posed to its business by climate change. On Monday, Exxon asked a federal court in Texas to block subpoenas from New York’s attorney-general for documents related to the probe.
                                                
                                                https://www.ft.com/content/30d8dc2e-95f … f38d484582
                                                
                                                That case will likely be crushed underfoot as the rush for more plunder gets underway.

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                                                   jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                                   How does creating a supersonic jet fall into that category you speak of?
                                                   Climate change is a hot topic in recent years. So much so that almost every agency have some sub group working on it. My question is this. Is this the most efficient way to go about it? Are there duplication of efforts?
                                                   Why set up agencies to address various problems if they all end up studying the same thing?

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            Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            That may be a rationale for doing away with agencies and departments.

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   Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 years ago

   My USAF group has some contact with NASA. The mandate for NASA includes aeronautics (aviation) research since 1958, 2005, 2008, and 2010, maintained in the mandate changes for 2010. The Mission to Mars Within 25 Years mandate by Congress is in addition to the mandate given in 2010 - 2011. Here's what I know so far, all of it already in the news:
   
   2011 NASA Mission Statement Summary:
   Expand human activities across the solar system
   Expand scientific understanding of the universe
   Produce new space technologies
   Advance aeronautics research (like the supersonic plane)
   Maintain and expand aeronautics and space activities
   Educate the public and encourage citizen participation
   
   SUPERSONIC PLANE: The supersonic plane is developed under the aeronautics mandate by NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, including The Advanced Air Vehicles Program, the Integrated Aviation Systems Program, and two others.
   
   REPLACEMENT SHUTTLE CRAFT: NASA already hired three companies that are members of its Commercial Crew to build new space craft and these are SpaceX, SierraNevada, and Boeing. I am concerned about the number of crashes SpaceX has had in test flights and cargo missions.
   
   MOON LANDINGS
   Discussion is now that the moon activities will be delegated to private space companies (my US State has over 1,200 space companies already). In fact, the Google Lunar XPrize project had some lunar landers ready in 2013.
   
   THE REST OF SPACE
   The universe outside of Earth and the Moon will be handled by NASA on behalf of USA.
   USA and Japan already have a partnership to gather debris in "outer space" above Earth beginning 2018 -2019, but I think it is also a type of law-and-order patrol.
   The 2013 class of NASA astronauts is training specifically to fly to Mars. A billionaire plans to send a man and a woman to Mars in 2018, but I think the ship will not be ready on time. The NASA Authorization Act of 2015 - 2016 (H.R. 810) reportedly mandates landing on Mars by 2041; but, I have not yet read the complete bill.

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      jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the detail info. on NASA. I didn't know that.
      Here is what NASA said on their site -
      https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/w … sa_do.html

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