NASA's Inconsistent Policy For Launching Large Payloads

NASA chief explains why agency won't buy a bunch of Falcon Heavy rockets, Ars Technica

"Since the launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket in February, NASA has faced some uncomfortable questions about the affordability of its own Space Launch System rocket. By some estimates, NASA could afford 17 to 27 Falcon Heavy launches a year for what it is paying annually to develop the SLS rocket, which won't fly before 2020. Even President Trump has mused about the high costs of NASA's rocket. On Monday, during a committee meeting of NASA's Advisory Council, former Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale raised this issue. Following a presentation by Bill Gerstenmaier, chief of human spaceflight for NASA, Hale asked whether the space agency wouldn't be better off going with the cheaper commercial rocket. ... One difficulty with Gerstenmaier's response to Hale's question is that NASA does not, in fact, yet have any "large-volume, monolithic pieces" that could only be launched by the Space Launch System."

Funny thing: today @NASA HEOMD AA Gerstenmaier said #NASA needs @NASA_SLS because the @SpaceX #FalconHeavy launch shroud is not big enough for #NASA payloads - while SMD AA @Dr_ThomasZ talked about the #JWST folding itself into the Ariane V launch shroud - because it has to. — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 27, 2018

Good question @WayneHale Answer: just make "monolithic" pieces into multiple pieces to begin with. Dock smaller things to make a bigger one - just like we did 50 years ago during Apollo - lunar orbit rendezvous - instead of direct landing with a Nova launch vehicle. https://t.co/NDysUpulNO — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2018

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