In a potential boon for private space companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, NASA is asking Congress for billions of dollars over the next five years to speed the development spacecraft capable of flying humans to and from the moon.
Recently appointed NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine supported a White House plan last year to make ACSC a competitive process between companies, two people familiar with the matter told CNBC. But some NASA leaders rejected the idea, wanting to stick with the development of an in-house lunar lander project, one of the people said.
The increased funding for ACSC also matches with statements Vice President Mike Pence made on Tuesday at a National Space Council meeting. Pence said it is the White House policy"to return American astronauts to the moon within the next five years." Although he said the SLS rocket must be accelerated to do so, he urged NASA to reach the moon"by any means necessary."
The budget request said ACSC would look at acquisition opportunities through public-private partnerships. In essence, this would structure the ACSC financial awards and development process in a competitive structure. Or, as Pence put it, buying the services rather than developing them in-house.
This is fraud
'...Nasa and White House...' Not hard working citizens-when the Rich pay a fraction in taxes compared to them Don't! Use the White House and Nasa's money... Oh, citizens' tax money pay their salaries too...my bad!
thesheetztweetz Hi Michael: Great article! But what did you mean by “human moon landers”...(?)...As opposed to “inhuman moon landers”...(?) Perhaps you meant manned— or womanned— landers...? How about Ann Landers...? Larry Sanders...?...
What's the point? Is there an end game here or do we just keep marveling at men taking two steps across a desert?
Nothing better than a lofty goal to make man stretch so our kids have a brighter future w/more jobs, more opportunities and new technologies that will all move us forward as a society!
This is tax payer money our government is giving to private companies.
Waist of money.