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The Shuttle Mission No One Wants

Posted by timothy on from the no-one-in-my-room-anyhow dept.

Fourmica writes "USA Today (by way of TechNewsWorld) has a surprisingly insightful look at the planned 'rescue option' for Discovery's upcoming launch. The plan, which has been mentioned here before, is to have the crew hole up on the ISS until Atlantis can launch to bring them home. My question is, why shove everyone into the ISS? Why not just dock with it, and share the life support supplies between the two systems, instead of cramming everyone into the station?" See this earlier story on the same topic.

4 of 404 comments (clear)

  1. very simple answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    Why not just dock with it, and share the life support supplies between the two systems, instead of cramming everyone into the station?

    Because the ISS is Russian-made and thus works, and the space shuttle is American-made, and thus is a POS.

    (I am a proud yet frustrated US citizen.)

  2. Public Choice raises its ugly head. by redswinglinestapler · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    This is a kluge, made by the lowest bidder that would build facilities in favored politicians districts, hamstrung by bureaucrats and inane regulation at every turn. The design was loaded with "everything for everyone" until it was a miracle that if flew at all.

    I admire the individual scientists and engineers that could make progress in this environment. No wonder they burn out at such a rate.

    Scrap the entire system, sell off NASA to the highest bidders, and have done with it. Putting more lives at risk on those craft is pointless. Any private effort wouldn't be able to afford the liability insurance for craft like those, aren't you glad it's your tax money being spent to kill people instead?

    If there is overwhelming support for such efforts, there is no need for taxes to taken at gun point to fund them. If the programs do not have such public support, there is no mandate for government to be doing it in the first place.

  3. Re:Answer by tomhudson · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    They'd have to jettison the shu[tt]le for the same reason they'd want to go to the ISS ... would you REALLY want to be on the shuttle after everyone on it has gone "Holy fuck!" and crapped their pants?

  4. Re:Burt Rutan: 4 Days. NASA: 2 Years by coopex · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Since I don't feel like customizing a post just for you, read this http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=145901 &cid=12220376 and substitute your name and points for lostwanderer147.

    --
    The road to hell is paved with good intentions.