Some NASA-backers in Congress are trying to push back the retirement of the space shuttles from 2010 until 2015, flying two missions per year to the International Space Station.Many in NASA say it could be done, and safely. Others note there are political, practical and financial questions to consider.
"From a technical, engineering standpoint, there would be nothing stopping the vehicles from being able to fly. They have a lot of life in them," said Mike Moses, NASA's shuttle launch integration manager at Kennedy Space Center.
"I'm confident we could fly at a rate and the risk level we have been flying, and it wouldn't be hard to do," he said. "But it becomes a political question: Is that the right thing to do? And from a budgetary standpoint, can you commit the resources of NASA to continue to fly those vehicles?"
Take a look at some of the big questions about extending the shuttle, along with the answers, right HERE.
ABOUT THE IMAGE: Click to enlarge the NASA image of the orbiter Discovery being lowered into position alongside its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters, a key operation aimed at readying the fully assembled shuttle for a planned March 2 rollout to launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. You can also click the enlarged image to get an even bigger, more detailed view. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder.
5 comments:
Why is flying the shuttle twice a year a budgetary concern, whereas spending trillions of dollars on other worthless programs not?
Rick Steele
Sarasota, Florida
Obama should really come to a space shuttle launch, then he would see, what NASA really does. But with his very questionable decisions about spaceflight, he's really not a good president in the space program overall. I support that NASA could extend the shuttle's life to 2015,I will really miss the missions, when it will end by 2010.
When I could do something, I would really do, but I live in Switzerland :-(
Keep the good work up, all you guys, you really do a great job!!!!
Jan
Switzerland
The country's space workers are not impressed by a president that breaks his word and now threatens to kill 30,000 jobs across the US.
He has his puppet doing his dirty work (Bolden) with no destinations or concrete plans. I'm so sorry I voted for him.
Space Worker
Let your voice be heard and get to the Rally on saturday 2/27 at BCC in Titusville
yeah, another rally....that'll do it. A rally against the policies of the guy they rallied for in the first place.
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