Re: next shuutle flight fall 2006


mmaker@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Mark Lopa wrote:
> > I still think the October 2010 retirement date will be extended.
>
> And who will take responsibility if another shuttle is lost after 2010?
> IMHO the 2010 date is set in stone, because no-one is likely to have
> the balls to extend it and take that risk.
>
> > But do you really think Bush will allow all that money
> > spent trying to find and fix problems since Columbia only to have one
> > test shuttle flight to show for it?
>
> Bush won't care as long so he's not the fall guy.
>
> Mark

Why not refit the remaining shuttles for unmanned launch and landing
after 2010. Continue to use unmanned shuttles as heavy lift vehicles to
resuppy the ISS until real heavy lift launchers are ready. A CEV or
Soyuz could meet the shuttle in orbit, a crew could board it and guide
it to dock with the ISS. Once the mission is over, land it unmanned. If
the Russians could fly a shuttle unmanned in 80's there is no reason
NASA couldn't do it today as a stop gap measure.

Rusty

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: next shuutle flight fall 2006
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