nasa sticks to its guns

The agency is determined to launch its latest Mars rover no matter what.

mockups of nasa's martian rovers

Mockups of NASA's Martian rovers

After reviewing its options for the MSL mission which was suffering from drastic cost overruns, NASA decided to proceed with its plan to launch its mega-rover in October of next year despite the projects budget now ballooning past $2 billion. This doesnt mean that NASAs dilemma is over.

Its still possible for Congress to intervene should the ballooning expenses become eyesores in government ledgers. Project managers now have until January to iron out the biggest kinks in the software and hardware which are the key pain points (to use corporate lingo for a moment) and are responsible for many of the overruns.

Also see: NASA needs a smile today and why NASA just cant please anyone for a deeper look into NASAs budgetary and publicity woes.

  archived from wowt
              
# space // budget / government / mars rovers / msl


  show comments
latest reads

the new fantastic, biodegradable plastic

Plastics are an environmental disaster, but we still need them. Now, there's a much better solution to our plastics problem.
the new fantastic, biodegradable plastic

how oligarchs are polluting our way out of a baby boom

When children and future generations are critical to the future, but not as critical as quarterly returns.
how oligarchs are polluting our way out of a baby boom

the sad decline of richard dawkins

Once the reigning champion of skepticism and rationality, Dawkins has become what he once ridiculed.
the sad decline of richard dawkins

why we need to tackle our silent viral stowaways

There may finally be a vaccine and a treatment for one of the most successful and annoying viruses.
why we need to tackle our silent viral stowaways

scientists find out why some places just feel haunted

Ever walk into an old house or a dark, gloomy place and felt like something is just... off? Now we know why.
scientists find out why some places just feel haunted

the people evolution keeps leaving behind

In their commitment to rejecting science, creationists refuse to even update their arguments over the last two decades.
the people evolution keeps leaving behind