> Is budget estimation just some figleaf used at NASA to push the favored mission over the selection line, and then another set of books is used to actually build and run the mission?<p>Yes? When in the history of modern American aerospace funding has NASA <i>actually</i> gotten the money they ask for, in the timeframe they asked for it?<p>The problem with NASA is making it political. I agree it's a national disgrace, but the disgrace lives in Congress, not Cape Canaveral.