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General discussion

What if the Shuttle Never Flew Again?

by C1ay Apr 17, 2004 12:53PM PDT
NASA's Fear of Flying

NASA?s human spaceflight workforce is hard at work attempting to get the space shuttle program back to flying status. But grasping at the Return to Flight (RTF) shuttle straw is proving elusive.

Both inside and outside NASA, there are worries among the workforce that the more time the shuttle fleet sits grounded, other trouble spots may materialize. And if the RTF crusade stretches out month after month, and costs to counter those problems mount, the overall desire to fly the shuttle again could erode....


This has already signed the end of service for the Hubble. Without the shuttle the ISS will not be completed as designed either. Is it time to spend the money on a change in direction?

Discussion is locked

3 Posts
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Re:What if the Shuttle Never Flew Again?
by Mary Kay Apr 17, 2004 11:35PM PDT

IMO, this is sad. We should never close our minds to
the realm of possibilities. To dream and make them reality is what everybody should want and strive for.

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Re:What if the Shuttle Never Flew Again?
by Richard Jones Forum moderator Apr 18, 2004 12:48AM PDT

Hi Clay,

Well, the shuttle turned out to cost more as a "re-useable" launch system than if they had designed it as not. Or so I've heard. I think the abandonment of the Hubble is a bad move - maybe Congress can turn that one around.

I think the ISS has been "sold" the wrong way from the getgo. Space should be looked upon from a knowledge/science basis, not what monetary rewards the participants may or "should" gain.

Unfortunately, my impression is that the general public does not have very much interest in space missions.Or science, for that matter!

Rick

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Re: What if the Shuttle Never Flew Again?
by Dave Konkel [Moderator] Apr 18, 2004 9:09AM PDT

Hi, Clay,

IMCO, we should restart the X-33 spaceplane before anything else. Building the Mars mission on the moon is foolish, because we have to boost everything up from earth. We should be building it in earth orbit, at a spot at the top of a "space elevator."

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
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The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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