NASA's New Exploration Architecture

A Closer Look at NASA's New Exploration Architecture

Last week NASA briefed the National Academy of Sciences on their new Exploration Architecture (to replace the shuttle, return to the Moon and prepare for Mars). In the briefing they released some interesting details on the new spacecraft, launchers and test flight schedules. It's unfortunate that NASA chose to announce this architecture in the aftermath of Katrina; almost no one payed attention, and those who did wondered how we could afford to do it, regardless of merit, considering the enormous costs of recovering from disaster.