Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

US Urged To Keep Space Shuttles Flying Past 2010

Posted by kdawson on from the clipping-the-wing-clippers dept.

DarkNemesis618 writes "A US Representative has proposed that NASA keep the shuttle fleet flying past its planned 2010 retirement date. The move would help NASA avoid reliance on Russian rockets during the gap between the Space Shuttle retirement and the start of the Orion program. One proposal would keep the shuttle fleet flying from 2010 to 2013 while another would keep the fleet alive until the Orion program is ready in about 2015. 2011 marks the end of the exemption that has allowed NASA to use Soyuz rockets for trips to the Space Station, and they would need an extension to keep using Russian launch vehicles. NASA's other option lies in the private sector; but thus far, the progress from that quarter does not look sufficient to meet the 2011 deadline."

6 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Race goes on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, I have ancient servers running on ancient Linux variants as well, just for showing off to Windows users. Congratulations for the most pathetic reply of the day.
  2. Re:Yes, but on the bright side... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But for some reason, we're afraid to blow up the occasional person to get into space. We need to get over that.
    You first.
  3. Re:"Urged" by whom? by Cally · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's faith-based aerospace... as in, when you launch, you pray it doesn't go boom.

    --
    "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -- Goethe
  4. Re:Spend by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Moonbase. That's no moonbase. It's a cheese mining facility. Chewie, turn this ship around. I'm lactose intolerant.

  5. Re:Race goes on by CarpetShark · · Score: 1, Funny

    You'd think the "who's got the biggest cock" race would be over by now.


    It basically was, until a big cock was elected.
  6. Re:Race goes on by AaxelB · · Score: 2, Funny

    I submit that a good approach is to broadcast nice and expect to receive the opposite; you're right, or you're pleasantly surprised. But if you broadcast "asshole" and expect to recieve the same, you're almost always right.