Is Boeing trying to be the new NASA with all the new office functions that are being created due to this SEI program or that they still as of yet have not produced any results of even the achievement of level 0 for the CEV from either Lockheed or from Boeing. Who is kidding who.

The shuttle has been driven for the last 20 to 25 years with gears in the tail rudder that were improperly assembled. If this were an Electronical device it would have been tested and retested for quality. So what does that say about mechanical desinged components for the shuttle. I would say look at them all.

As matter of interest: there was an article in the NYT over the weekend that was considering the capacity of private industry to deal with SEI. In a sidebar they noted the different companies that were involved in the design of the Saturn V - with the exception of one or two components (can't remember which) produced by LM , all of the other companies involved eventually ended up being part of Boeing.

The Level 0 requirements are due to come in a week's time, so Boeing's (and Lockheed's for that matter - they created similiar offices more than a month ago!)internal changes are just in preparation to tackle these requirements.

At least something's happening.

I did see the article over the weekend and had noticed the sidebar drawing with the text as to who did which stage as well as who currently is it's owning company through acquistion.