Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

House Asks NASA to Postpone Space Plane

Posted by michael on Tuesday October 28, 2003 @11:04AM from the whoa dept.

PipianJ writes "The House Science Committee has requested NASA to postpone the orbital space plane program (official letter (pdf)), thanks to lingering concern about the safety of the existing space program. On the other hand, isn't one of the ideas behind the orbital space plane program the fact that our current space program is getting more unsafe through the use of 20-year-old equipment?" The Senate is also getting into the act.

1 of 362 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Re:Of course by eliza_effect · 2003-10-28 11:13 · Score: 5, Insightful

Right, it should be as safe as possible. But there is a limit. What, exactly, would be the point of making manned space flights as safe as, for example, commercial air-travel? The space program is about risk and reward, and I'm sure that the astronauts are well aware that they may be killed.

If I was wearing a flame-retardant suit, being tested for G-tolerance, I would assume there is some risk involved. If you negate the risk, you will negate the reward as well.