Lunar Sooner

[tplank]

Anybody know anything about this? Is there anything interesting to it or is this just a tweaking of the plans? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[tohaki]

Are they worried that the announced 2017 Chinese landing on the moon won't be unmanned afterall? <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[tplank]

(With apologies to all of the fine graduates of the University of Oklahoma.)<br /><br />Lunar Sooner, Lunar Sooner,<br />Wanna get to, Luna Soona.<br />Lunar Sooner, Lunar Sooner,<br />Less you want to, be a Mandarin speaka.<br /><br />I’m Terra born and terra bred,<br />But when I die, I’ll be Luna dead. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">Anybody know anything about this? Is there anything interesting to it or is this just a tweaking of the plans?</font>/i><br /><br />My guess is that Griffin's schedule and budget have at least a 20% margin of error built it, so if there are no hiccups along the way shaving two years off the plan is probably not a big leap.<br /><br />Furthermore, there are probably elements that can be removed or pushed out to later years in order to accelerate other portions. For example, the Methane engines are a nice element that would be beneficial for future Mars missions, but removing that from the critical path to the Moon now reduces uncertainties and costs. Unfortunately, it may increase costs later on for Mars missions.<br /><br />Finally, there are some tasks that can probably be done in parallel that are currently scheduled in serial, primarily for budget reasons. With a little more money earlier in the program, these tasks could be done concurrently and thus accelerating the schedule with very little impact on the long-term cost of the program. If China or Russia appear that they may reach the Moon before the US, Griffin can propose this shifting of funds to Congress.</i>

 

[tplank]

So why not make it explicit? Space Race II sounds fun. <br /><br />I sure hope there is more than 20% margin of error in the plan! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>