Citing safety, NASA panel advises building a new, costly mobile launcher

NASA

In August 2010, NASA completed construction of a massive 355-foot tall mobile tower that was to be used to launch its Ares I rocket. It had cost the agency $234 million to build, according to NASA's inspector general. But there was just one problem-President Obama had canceled the Ares I rocket in February of that year.

Later, Congress would swoop in to reinstate NASA's rocket-building program by directing the agency to build the Space Launch System. But because this rocket is larger and more powerful than the Ares I vehicle, the mobile launch platform had to be modified to handle the additional weight and thrust. Initial estimates of this expense were $54 million, but the cost has risen substantially above that.

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