Is NASA low balling congress again?

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...extension.html

“The proposed NASA Authorization Act of 2008 designates $150 million for a space shuttle flight to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the International Space Station in 2010.”

Heck if it’s only $150 mil lets put 7 rock stars at $20 mil each and still add a 20,000 lb payload in the back. That would put the LEO price per lb down to $500. Lets see the ruskies under cut that price.

I say they are low balling. They will get two thirds the way done and cry “We ran out of money”. Then congress will have to pony up another $100 mil just to salvage any value out of the whole thing.

That's a pretty serious accusation, you are basically charging NASA with fraud and lying to Congress. You wouldn't happen to have any proof of this?

Later in the article you linked to it says this:
So it sounds like NASA actually told Congress it costs more than $150 million. I suspect Congress is either giving the $150 million as a first payment on the future total cost, or is undercutting NASA.

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

...Good point, but I really don't get what they are saying in the article...

Are they saying this is a new mission above the contingency flights? Part of the congingency flights? In leiu of the contingency flights?

And they authorized 3 flights? then why are they still saying "possible" contingency flights.

Is there other money going to come from the other 16 international interests?

Is this also just to cover the loss in margin that another flight will cause? They actually infer this one.

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Numbers are not case sensitive. (me)

I thought the "spare parts" lines have been closed down? Oh look I found a spare external tank in the closet!
Didn't I read that the main gear tires were only used once? That would be an even dozen extra tires on the shelf beyond the planned missions. I hope they haven't exceeded there 6 year shelf life.