Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to re: But.......

Perhaps it would be better if we went back to the NACA model
Larry J — (archived)

Before there was NASA, there was the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). They were a much smaller and more focused organization that did a lot of pioneering research and development for aircraft. Their results were freely given to industry to improve aircraft performance, efficiency, and safety. NACA didn't try to operate fleets of planes - they only concentrated on developing and shaping new technology.

As for the Hubble, it's a wonderful telescope but don't forget that it was, like most big-ticket NASA projects, many years behind schedule, grossly over budget, and didn't work as advertised until expensive repairs were made. You don't have to look much further than this week's launch of the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) to see NASA in action. The original launch was scheduled for 1990. They kept changing the mission scope, then cutting the capabilities due to budget constraints.

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