Report critical of astronaut training, corps size
Posted: Sun, Oct 21, 2001, 11:05 AM ET (1505 GMT)
A Florida Today investigative report published Sunday concludes that NASA is wasting money on an astronaut corps that is too large for current flight needs. The report found that NASA has spent over $100 million training 62 astronauts currently with NASA — 42 percent of the total corps — who have never flown in space. At current flight rates, it will take 11 years to fly all the rookie astronauts at least once. The report also found that NASA has no accounting method to determine how much it costs to train a new astronaut. The report notes that an astronaut corps of 60 mission specialists and 15 pilots, about half the size of the current corps, would be enough to support upcoming flights and allow enough time for astronauts to prepare between each mission.
A Florida Today investigative report published Sunday concludes that NASA is wasting money on an astronaut corps that is too large for current flight needs. The report found that NASA has spent over $100 million training 62 astronauts currently with NASA — 42 percent of the total corps — who have never flown in space. At current flight rates, it will take 11 years to fly all the rookie astronauts at least once. The report also found that NASA has no accounting method to determine how much it costs to train a new astronaut. The report notes that an astronaut corps of 60 mission specialists and 15 pilots, about half the size of the current corps, would be enough to support upcoming flights and allow enough time for astronauts to prepare between each mission.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, June 30
Starlink subscriptions drops 11% in Kenya as Safaricom 5G routers win over users
Techcabal — 5:42 am ET (0942 GMT) Citizens file appeal against 40 Starlink satellite antennae planned in Swiss village
Swissinfo — 5:41 am ET (0941 GMT) Can Starlink stay ahead in satellite internet?
NPR — 5:41 am ET (0941 GMT) Blue Origin successfully launches latest human flight from West Texas
KTSM-TV El Paso — 5:39 am ET (0939 GMT) Blue Origin N-S 33 lifts off
KVIA-TV El Paso, TX — 5:39 am ET (0939 GMT) |
