NASA Sends Congress a Heavy-lift Design Too Big for its Budget

摘要

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said the U.S. space agency intends to build a heavy-lift rocket that meets the manifold re-quirements Congress set for the new boost-er, but that the heavily shuttle-derived de-sign it sent lawmakers Jan. 10 could change if internal studies and industry input yield a more affordable approach.NASA's baseline heavy-lift design, out-lined in a congressionally mandated report delivered Jan. 10 to Capitol Hill, calls for a liquid hydrogen-fueled rocket that would use the space shuttle's RS-25 main engines, giant external fuel tank and five-segment versions of the solid-rocket boosters the shuttle jettisons on its way to orbit.