White House Tells NASA To Land Humans On The Moon In 5 Years

"At direction the President it is the stated policy to return Americans to the Moon within the next 5 years" @VP — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

Well @VP just laid the law down to @BoeingSpace @NASA_SLS @NASA_Orion and @XploreDeepSpace - if the current contractors can't meet NASA's goals they will find companies that can meet that deadline. — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

"We must accelerate and accomplish this goal by any means necessary - we must focus on the mission and not the means" @VP — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

"In SPD-1 NASA was directed to develop a lunar exploration plan - after 15 months later we do not have a plan. @JimBridenstine told me 15 min ago that we now have a plan to go back to the Moon" @VP — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

"Its time for the next giant leap. To return Americans to the surface of the Moon by any means necessary. To build a permanent presence on the Moon and send humans to Mars" @VP — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

Line read by @JimBridenstine "Anything that is not mandatory is a distraction" - he said "I think I am going to post that on the @NASA website and email it to the NASA workforce." — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

1h Given that @NASA_MSFC and @BoeingSpace can only meet a 2020 EM-1 deadline by skipping a lot of required tests and Pence's human landing goal of 2024/2025 by utterly changing their current plans the private sector now has an unparalleled opportunity to show what they can do. — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

Now we hear the standard reason what Gateway is needed - go to the entire moon, etc etc. Hopefully @JimBridenstine will run a study for easier ways to get to the Moon sooner using commercial assets. — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

Having the WH set the 5 year goal is excellent. It focuses everyone from on high. Holding contractors to task or finding new ones is what is called for in all areas but certainly is needed for humans on the Moon. 1/n — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

When I see a firm, hard decision to change something that has been sacrosanct for decades then I will accept that WH means it. If you want people to take this seriously a head needs to roll somewhere. Otherwise its just going to be seen as business as usual. 2/n — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 26, 2019

from NASA Watch https://ift.tt/2FDsxro
via IFTTT