Shuttles Can't Finish Space Station

Doug Dante writes "The shuttle can't make the 28 flights now planned before it retires in 2010, according to Dr. Michael D. Griffin, the new administrator of NASA. It can only do about 15-23, leaving 5-13 planned missions to alternate lift vehicles. NASA is expected to consult space station partners on alternatives once they are approved by the Bush administration. Should the Space Shuttle be cut loose?"

Comments

Re:NASA, get out of the launch business!

[szaz]

Are you mad!!?? I wouldn't dare let private enterprise anywhere near scientifically important space travel. Let them take up rich patrons if they wish - its their choice, but seriously - how often does the introduction of 'market forces' actually improve services?
Sure, business is the right way to produce most goods - there can be true competition in that, and it often doesn't matter when that competition inevitably leads to a reduction in product quality for the sake of profit, but services (in this case, space flight) are different. There won't be true competition - meaning they can charge what they like, and they will always have to make a profit, which only comes from cost saving measures.

Re:Let it run it's course.

[sillybilly]

We need those weapons to take out the chinese and indian shuttles when they are about to take off and leave us behind by building a better space station.

Re:Bush administration

[aussersterne]

Oh I don't know, project CHILDKILL, funded to the tune of $200bn, was implemented to research the most efficient and risk-free methods for implating shrapnel into the skulls of Iraqi children and to link this research to a desired increase in the base of international terrorism.

The project has been successful beyond its wildest dreams; numerous new methods for high-accurace at-distance decapitation and shrapnel implantation have been discovered (the spinoffs from which we no doubt won't fully understand for decades), and in the meantime, the more general goal of an increase in international terrorism to aid in the justification for establishment of a western capitalist theocracy has also been achieved, according to most objective observers.

$200bn well-spent. Yes, it could have gone to the space program I suppose, but project CHILDKILL was (and still is) widely regarded to be the at the forefront of American science.