Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to NEA and Phobos missions...

They say no, not with current budgets
dtb — (archived)

The Augustine commission actually does suggest that option be looked at. But, it can not fit within current budgets, even with early Shuttle/ISS termination. And it would replace going to the Moon, not be in addition to the Moon.

As I see it they are saying this.

Of the following options:

1. Moon missions in the early 2020s.
2. Asteroid and Mars fly-by missions in the early 2020s.
3. Sustained and increased LEO presence (e.g., keep using ISS) with less risky launch system than Shuttle.

Then for a moderately increased budget, you can do ONE, and only one from that list.

For currently programmed budgets, you can do ZERO.

I think they are setting a relatively low risk tolerance, both in the sense of likelihood of fatal accidents and for the program failing due to too much ambition / too little cash, but even so we're in bad shape.

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