New Problem Could Ground Space Shuttle Fleet

Ender writes "As if the NASA folks at KSC did not have enough problems to deal with a the moment, (see previous /. article on the engine cracks and the following CNN article on the repairs) a NEW problem has sufaced in the Apollo Era transporter which vehiculates the Shuttles to the launch pads (crawler). They found many cracked bearings in the cylinders that lift the shuttle and its launch platform on the transporter. After this discovery they took a look at the other crawler and it too had quite numerous cracked bearings. No word from NASA yet but these findings may further delay the next Space Shuttle launch which is currently scheduled for NET (no earlier than) Sept 28th and by the same token slow down the assembly of the ISS. Complete articles at SpaceFlightNow and United Press International."

Comments

Never thought I'd see the day...

[AussieBastard]

...but perhaps NASA needs help from the Indians?

Maybe the ISS isn't such a big deal...

[PRickard]

In light of this discovery, maybe NASA should delay the pointless space station a little while and check all its ancient equipment for wear and tear.... Complain all you want about delays in ISS construction, but how many replacement crawlers (and replacement shuttles) could the government buy for what it spent on the ISS project so far? How many human lives should NASA sacrifice to get the space station built? Time isn't that crucial here, considering that the thing will already be years late because of Russia's inability to meet a deadline.

Since China and India want a space program so badly, we should sell them all our aging space crap. (I can see the yardsale now... ) Then use the money raised from that to buy one decent working spacecraft that won't have to be renovated every time NASA uses it.

Why the incline

[gone_bush]

This begs the question: Why is there a 5 degree incline? Get out the pick and shovel and level it off! ;-)