NASA Space Shuttle Retirement May be Delayed

by Fairbanks | August 31, 2008 at 10:30 am

1209 views | 6 Recommendations | 8 comments

NASA is apparently looking at extending the life of the Space Shuttle until the new man-rated launch system, Ares, [with Orion being the manned component] comes on line about 2015. [September 2014 is now the scheduled launch date for the first manned flight of Orion. Additional funding at this stage of the progam would not move the date forward significantly.] The Space Shuttle was planned to be retired in 2010, which would leave a five year gap with the only regular manned flights being on the Russian Soyuz. Both Obama and McCain have indicated support for NASA and possibly increasing funding. NASA Manager Michael Griffen has requested NASA staff to look at continuing Shuttle flights until 2015, but this would cost about $4 billion a year, so there is the problem: more funding or the Ares development will be delayed or rely on Russian launches that might not always be available for International Space Station, ISS, support.

The Ares is intended to support manned exploration of the moon and Mars. This brings up the other question: should the ISS be supported any further? The ISS is not at full capacity, which would be six scientists aboard fulltime and never will be. The ISS is nearing the end of its designed life, which might seem strange considering it is not yet built to completion.

Here is the opinion: the ISS should be turned over to anybody that is interested, the Space Shuttle should be retired, and the moon base should be the priority. There would be no manned NASA launches until 2015 at the earliest. Time to move on.

=========================================

9 Sept 2008, More Griffin, on White House Interference!:

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Emails_from_NASA_head_show_discontent_999.html

National Air and Space Agency Administrator Mike Griffin has written critically of a lack of funding for a new rocket and White House interference in America's space flight program, the Orlando Sentinel reported Sunday.

"My own view is about as pessimistic as it is possible to be," he wrote Aug. 18 in predicting continuation of the space shuttle program, which he opposes as unsafe and a waste of resources.

========================================================

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/

Endeavour's hangar rollout completed this morning
In preparation for its role as a standby rescue craft during next month's Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission and the scheduled November logistics run to the international space station, shuttle Endeavour was moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building this morning.
MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates!

===========================================

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/

================================================

Ares launch system design review moving, slowly

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/NASA_Ares_I_Rocket_Passes_Review_To_Reach_Critical_Milestone_999.html

NASA's Ares I Rocket Passes Review To Reach Critical Milestone

This week, the J-2X engine will be the first Ares I element to kick off the critical design review process. The engine will power the Ares I upper stage to orbit after separation from the first stage. Desktops available :: 1360x768 :: 1280x1024 :: 1024x768

Huntsville AL (SPX) Sep 12, 2008

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Sign In or Join to post comments

Fairbanks

at 11:13 on September 2nd, 2008

Thanks. Atlantis is the next launch, October, and is to the Hubble Space Telescope rather than the ISS.

Update from Moscow to upcoming Hubble mission:

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/NASA_Postpones_Atlantis_Mission_To_Hubble_Again_999.html

NASA Postpones Atlantis Mission To Hubble Again
by Staff Writers Moscow (RIA Novosti) Sep 02, 2008

NASA has postponed the Atlantis shuttle's launch to the Hubble Space Telescope for another two or three days to October 10-11, to complete work on an external fuel tank.

Golden-Eye

at 14:42 on September 1st, 2008

It will be interesting to see how the new administration will fund NASA

More photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/timgolden/sets/72157606468240029/

Golden-Eye has contributed a photo to this story.

foneman30

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:53 on September 1st, 2008

What will be interesting, to me, is to see what effect Russia-American relations, on this earth, will have on the ISS. Fairbanks, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Fairbanks

at 07:13 on September 2nd, 2008

>Russian-American relations are a big question.

Thanks. Science and space should not be affected, but we shall see.

SOLARLIFE

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:44 on September 2nd, 2008

Fairbanks, I like this story. Important news; Lifespan extended of shuttle. Russia already says will not transport US astronauts, if Georgia conflict not settled. The Ares is a low cost oldtimer vibrating like hell (too long with unregular burning rockets); America's NASA team meanwhile overaged, the charismatic head Wernher v. Braun missing; the chinese launching 3rd man in space. The shuttle was the right way. The heatshield glued with "Loctite" is a aging problem only. The war funding grounded NASA, with the pocket money Bush let them, they can try to fly from Florida to NY, but not to the moon. At least $ 100 bn needed for next five years.

Fairbanks

at 14:58 on September 2nd, 2008

Thanks. NASA is kind of a niche interest, but vital not only for the USA but the many partners around the world, including China although cooperation could be closer.

http://www.space-travel.com/

'Hong Kong (AFP) Sept 2, 2008
China has brought forward the launch date of its third manned space flight to late September, a report said Tuesday. The launch of Shenzhou VII is now expected to take place between September 17 -- the end of the Beijing Paralympics -- and China's National Day on October 1, Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po said'

Fairbanks

at 12:05 on September 4th, 2008

More problems for NASA manned space flight obligations:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0809/04griffin/

BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION
Posted: September 4, 2008

Movement on a legislative exemption that would allow NASA to buy seats on Russian Soyuz spacecraft past 2011 is at a virtual standstill, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin says. Because of the three-year lead time needed to build Soyuz vehicles, contracts must be in place by early 2009 to avoid an interruption in NASA's presence on board the international space station. But in an interview with CBS News on Thursday, Griffin said he is not optimistic any such legislation will be approved in the wake of Russia's invasion of Georgia and that it's now likely the U.S. segment of the station will have to be unmanned for at least some portion of 2012.

Griffin said the problem is "very serious. We have been literally working this issue all year long. I need a contract vehicle in place by early '09 if we are to fly American and international partners on Soyuz in early '12." . . .

Griffin not optimistic about new deal to buy Soyuz rides