NASA clears Mars lander despite overruns
Posted: Fri, Feb 2, 2007, 8:25 AM ET (1325 GMT)
NASA officials have decided to let a Mars lander mission scheduled for launch later this year proceed despite cost overruns. The Phoenix mission underwent a "termination review" at NASA headquarters last week after the project indicated it would exceed its $386-million cost cap by as much as $31 million. Project officials blamed the increased costs on problems with a commercial radar altimeter they had planned to use on the spacecraft, as well as delays in finding a suitable landing site on Mars. NASA has not indicated how much additional money it will provide the project, or what effect providing that money would have on other agency programs. Phoenix, based on hardware developed for a cancelled 2001 lander mission, is scheduled for launch in August.
NASA officials have decided to let a Mars lander mission scheduled for launch later this year proceed despite cost overruns. The Phoenix mission underwent a "termination review" at NASA headquarters last week after the project indicated it would exceed its $386-million cost cap by as much as $31 million. Project officials blamed the increased costs on problems with a commercial radar altimeter they had planned to use on the spacecraft, as well as delays in finding a suitable landing site on Mars. NASA has not indicated how much additional money it will provide the project, or what effect providing that money would have on other agency programs. Phoenix, based on hardware developed for a cancelled 2001 lander mission, is scheduled for launch in August.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Virgin Galactic slightly delays resumption of commercial flights
Posted: Sat, Aug 9 11:05 AM ET (1505 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, August 16
Firefly Aerospace: The Space Stock You Should Not Buy
SeekingAlpha — 9:43 am ET (1343 GMT) Arielle Roth's First Headache? Call It the Musk Migraine
Broadband Breakfast — 9:41 am ET (1341 GMT) Space Systems Command Activates New Systems Delta
US Space Force — 9:40 am ET (1340 GMT) Coastal Commission Unanimously Rejects SpaceX Launch Expansion at Vandenberg
Santa Barbara (CA) Independent — 9:39 am ET (1339 GMT) California commission rejects proposal to increase SpaceX rocket launches
The Hill — 9:36 am ET (1336 GMT) |
