XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics   
   From: invalid@invalid.com   
      
   On 8/20/2017 11:26 AM, JF Mezei wrote:   
   > On 2017-08-20 06:23, Rob wrote:   
   >   
   >> The main reason they get expensive is that it is made sure and checked   
   >> many times that there can be no likely failures that makes them stop   
   >> working too soon, under the extreme conditions they operate in.   
   >>   
   >> This not only includes the design and manufacturing, but also a   
   >> simulation environment and team of highly qualified people on the   
   >> ground that prepare and discuss every command sent up, and all possible   
   >> solutions for problems that have occurred (e.g. getting stuck).   
   >   
   > But for such a project, is NASA bloated or considered fairly efficient?   
   > I note that these rovers are usually done at JPL, not at the main "pork"   
   > locations in Florida, Houston, new Orleans.   
      
   it requires a knowledge base of experienced space design people to do it.   
      
   >   
   > Since they don't involve human lives, are the projects far more   
   > efficient and less bogged down in endless paperwork and change   
   > manegement procedures?   
      
   costs too much to put humans in space, I think NASA allready announced   
   that for Mars.   
      
   >   
   > Since these projects generally don't involve the large donors to   
   > political parties (Boeing, Lockheed etc), would they fly under the radar   
   > and be allowed to be very efficient for what they do?   
   > (or are those donors involved with the rovers too?)   
      
   money comes from Gov R&D funding, they dont care about politics that   
   much, getting the job done sucessfully with experienced design people   
   comes first.   
      
   >   
   > Note that satellites are commercially built and must widthstand space   
   > weather and harsh temperatures too. (but not dust).   
      
   Motorola mass produced sattilites for a while, exceptional engineering,   
   in Arizona   
      
   >   
   >> The actual parts that make up the rover cover only a small fraction   
   >> of the total costs of design and operation.  This is of course true   
   >> for many one-of designs, not only in space.   
   >   
   > The R&D to create those parts is likely quite expensive though as the   
   > part must not only handle wide range of temperatures, but also be   
   > extremely light.   
      
   Rad Hard electronics, wide range of EM,  types of power   
      
   Vacuum causes outgassing problems with lubricents  contamminating lenses   
   etc...   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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