PIC's in space

[rsocor01]

I can verify the validity of Charles' statements as I do my work inside a test lab, as for the $20 hammer, I am sure it would work in " most " of the Govt.'s needs, the problem as I see it is in the Mil. Spec.'s usage.

I know he is right. Like you say the problem is in the spec's usage and also in all the bureaucracy involved in the process.

[Charles Linquis]

I know that everyone really loves to believe in conspiracies, but there isn't one. They guy ordering the hammer fills out a form. That form may or may not request that he state the specs it must adhere to. If is used in space, he checks a certain number of boxes. If is used around airplanes and fuel, he may check another (after all - the hammer may have to be made from a metal that doesn't produce sparks when it hits something hard. There are a very large number of "boxes". He doesn't know how much the hammer costs, or what the difference in cost really is if he checks, or doesn't check box #39. The guy just needs a certain type of hammer. The request goes to the buyer, who knows little or nothing about specs. So the buyer sends out the RFQ (Request For Quote) to a variety of hammer suppliers. The suppliers see that the hammer must be tested to pass a particular test suite and and they submit their bids. They aren't colluding, they just realize that they are going to have to send their hammer out for $20K testing, and price their hammer accordingly.
The buyer gets the lowest bid and buys the hammer from the lowest cost (and approved) supplier. The original guy gets his $500 hammer (or $1000 hammer, or whatever). He is happy. He DOES NOT KNOW (or care) how much that hammer cost. Even if he did, what other person in his organization would listen? If anyone buys a $20 hammer at Home Depot and it fails when used for a particular application in Afghanistan, he loses - big time, maybe it somehow results in the death of a soldier. If he goes through accepted channels, chose the correct "boxes" (explained above), and gets a $500 hammer and it fails in Afghanistan, it is not his fault.

Which would you choose, the $20 hammer or the $500 hammer? And who is the "evil" money-grubbing person here?

[cncmachineguy]

I have done a little government contract work myself, and I can assure you there are more then 2 sides to this low level debate, and in any single case, any position will be more correct.

On the other hand, how bout those pic's in space? Pretty darn cool if you ask me.

Btw, you left out the ever famous carc paint. Has a shelf life of just about 8 hours after opening, so no chance of using that gallon past that day, but it sure is expensive. And that's after a coat of wash primer, then epoxy primer. Then the adhesion testing and salt fog. Btw the prep before the wash primer was sand blasting to white then prime within an hour or so.

[rsocor01]

I know that everyone really loves to believe in conspiracies, but there isn't one. They guy ordering the hammer fills out a form. That form may or may not request that he state the specs it must adhere to. If is used in space, he checks a certain number of boxes. If is used around airplanes and fuel, he may check another (after all - the hammer may have to be made from a metal that doesn't produce sparks when it hits something hard. There are a very large number of "boxes". He doesn't know how much the hammer costs, or what the difference in cost really is if he checks, or doesn't check box #39. The guy just needs a certain type of hammer. The request goes to the buyer, who knows little or nothing about specs. So the buyer sends out the RFQ (Request For Quote) to a variety of hammer suppliers. The suppliers see that the hammer must be tested to pass a particular test suite and and they submit their bids. They aren't colluding, they just realize that they are going to have to send their hammer out for $20K testing, and price their hammer accordingly.
The buyer gets the lowest bid and buys the hammer from the lowest cost (and approved) supplier. The original guy gets his $500 hammer (or $1000 hammer, or whatever). He is happy. He DOES NOT KNOW (or care) how much that hammer cost. Even if he did, what other person in his organization would listen? If anyone buys a $20 hammer at Home Depot and it fails when used for a particular application in Afghanistan, he loses - big time, maybe it somehow results in the death of a soldier. If he goes through accepted channels, chose the correct "boxes" (explained above), and gets a $500 hammer and it fails in Afghanistan, it is not his fault.

Which would you choose, the $20 hammer or the $500 hammer? And who is the "evil" money-grubbing person here?

Charles,

I tried to send you a PM message but apparently your inbox is full. This is the message I got

Charles Linquis has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space.

Robert

[mister_e]

Still damn cool to send stuff in space, but always found it useless. Why do not fix, inderstand problem on earth first?

Lots of people die each eand every day because they can't eat... that 500$ hammer would feed couple of familly already.

They haven't solve the stinky feet problem.. maybe this is why they want to send people in space then ?

[amgen]

so sad and true

[mister_e]

That's a great classic you've got here... One on my favorite 80's track EVER!

[Demon]

About that plane using it's landing gear as an airbrake, that would just shear the gear off in jetfighters.

(great video)

I received the notice about the PIC in space, very cool stuff. Google amateur rocketry and it's amazing how far even that has progressed. Shoot, private companies are now planning on going in space (not up to date where they're at today).

First thing that crossed my mind with all this. Isn't NASA worried about all the space debris up there? And having private individuals launching all sorts of crap up there would not endanger manned missions?