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Orbital Space Plane Problems

FTL writes "NASA's next big step in space (after getting the remaining Shuttles flying again) is the construction of the Orbital Space Plane. It is a small vehicle designed to transport people to and from ISS. Jeffrey Bell takes a close look at OSP in this article and comes to the conclusion that it will result in yet another crippled vehicle. Sounds like what people were saying about the Shuttle's problems back when it was being designed."

17 of 352 comments (clear)

  1. phallus by frieked · · Score: 5, Funny

    Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this picture?
    http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/shared/news2003/OSP/O SP4.jpg

    --

    I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.
    -Xenocrates
    1. Re:phallus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this picture?

      Nope, the stuff is definately coming out the wrong end.

  2. What next?... by levik · · Score: 2, Funny
    First it was the "space shuttle" - now a "space plane"...

    What next, the "space elevator"?.. Oh wait...

    --
    Ñ'
    1. Re:What next?... by umrgregg · · Score: 4, Funny
      Seems to me NASA is working itself backwards in technology:

      "Space Shuttle" to "Space Plane" and some sort of "Space Elevator"

      I can't wait to see the specs for the "Space Staircase."

      --
      NMG
    2. Re:What next?... by lucretio · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think Led Zeppelin already had that idea.

  3. Solution? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe we can outsource it and have the Russians and Indians build it?

  4. Other familiar images on NASA.gov by goldspider · · Score: 4, Funny

    Want to see another familiar image on NASA's site? Check out my sig!

    --
    "Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
  5. Troubling by Fux+the+Pengiun · · Score: 5, Funny

    I glanced through the article...this is unfortunate news, and I hope the author's conclusions are incorrect. The shuttle is aging, and I think we all expect it to go the way of the Segway pretty soon.

    Maybe with some more $$, NASA could do a better job of shoring up the space program, to ensure boy-band members will still have the opportunity to travel in space for the foreseeable future. Perhaps if they switched the shuttle's software to an open source alternative, like Linux, or even one of its flakier derivatives like BSD, they could save enough money to get this new space plane up and running. It may also improve safety, as some of the reports from the Endeavor disaster cited issues with Windows .NET Server Orbital Vehicle Edition failing to convert between metric and English units correctly as leading to the tragedy. Space travel is important to our culture, the future of our children, and our global economy...we in the open source community need to do our part to ensure its success.

    --
    Consensual sex is boring.
  6. Pinpoint landing accuracy by Ynefel · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Apollo missions regularly landed within 2nm of the predicted point," Wow - 2 nanometers! That shows my tax dollars are well spent....

  7. Space Plane can't be as bad as current airlines by YetAnotherName · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... or could it?

    Simple lap belt replaced with 7-point harness.

    In-flight movie would just have to be Apollo 13.

    In-flight beverage would be Tang.

    Mandatory cavity search at security gate.

    No sharp or blunt objects allowed on board.

    That includes shoes.

    In case of decompression, a preferred religious object will drop from ceiling.

    1. Re:Space Plane can't be as bad as current airlines by mcc · · Score: 2, Funny
      You forgot:

      TSA officers would have to be trained to detect Jedi Mind Tricks.

      TSA Officer: Could you please remove your shoes and run them through the machine.

      Man in cloak, waving hand: I don't need to remove my shoes and run them through the machine.

      TSA Officer: You don't need to remove your shoes and run them through the machine.

  8. *N*autical *M*iles, not nanometers by sh00z · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is why we missed Mars.

  9. Certainly is a good thing that we got those ... by burgburgburg · · Score: 2, Funny

    Eagle landers finished in 1999 for Moonbase Alpha.

  10. The wheel might never work... by mikeophile · · Score: 4, Funny
    Many problems have plagued wheel developers over the years.

    Budget overruns, construction difficulties, and safety issues are causing many tribal elders to reconsider whether or not the benefits outweigh the costs.

    Many tribal members feel increasingly alienated by technology.

    A case in point is fire. The recent development of fire has been seen as a mixed blessing by many in the community.

    "Fire bad.", says Dr.Ugh, gesturing to his burned hands suffered during an early meat cooking experiment.

    Good or bad, fire has been rapidly adopted by the younger generation as both a means of cooking and the primary source of entertainment.

    If the wheel does beat the odds and becomes a viable means of transportation, what will it mean?

    Is our technological advancement going to far, too fast?

    Where will our science lead us, and do we really want to go there?

  11. He knows it will never fly... by No+Such+Agency · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... because rockets don't have any atmosphere to "push against" in space. It's simple common sense.

    --
    Freedom: "I won't!"
  12. Re:Compact Car by spruce · · Score: 2, Funny

    How would Honda, Mitsubishi, or Toyota would go about tackling these problems?

    They'd slap a V-TEC sticker on it, or call it the Space Shuttle XJ20. Then we the public would get an inferioity complex about it, so we'd get the rockets extended 6", put a huge spoiler on it, and give it a nitro system.

  13. Man.. by Eric(b0mb)Dennis · · Score: 4, Funny

    If only NASA could win the X-Prize, the 10mil would more than triple their current budget :(

    --
    Excuse me, I don't mean to impose, but I am the ocean