Space Shuttle Program
Sometimes I just have to write about things that I find really confusing. Even frustrating too.
This one is about the Space Shuttle Program.
President Bush mandated that the Space Shuttle Program be fazed out and a new launch vehicle built to take us to the Moon and Mars.
While there has been some progress the new vehicle isn’t supposed to be ready for testing until 2013. The way things go with government contracting I doubt it will be ready even then.
It appears that some in NASA have started seeing the extent of the problem. To be without a major lift platform for three years or more.
Orlando Sentinel has this to say :
The e-mail obtained by The Orlando Sentinel describes NASA Administrator Michael Griffin’s order for a study to determine if the shuttle could fly until 2015, when NASA’s next-generation space platform is expected to be completed. –
Now, I know that the Space Shuttles are old. But I still don’t see why we can’t continue to fly them until the new vehicle is ready. One of the obstacles, according to NASA, is money. If congress can give $50 Billion in tax rebates why can’t it give $4 Billion to fun the program for a year. Both of our Presidential candidates have pledge to fund the program for a while longer.
Another obstacle is manpower. While this is probably a concern, why can’t they have apprenticeship programs or internships that don’t’ require a 4 year degree? Many jobs can be filled by people who have little or no skills or experience with on the job training. Of course Unions at NASA would probably have a fit but who cares as long as people get jobs that can be used to further the program.
There is also a problem with parts. Many vendors have already stopped making the parts because NASA has canceled their contracts.
Then there is the question of why can’t we use the shuttle to build vehicles to return to the moon or even make the trip to mars? Take the parts up to orbit and leave them there until they are ready to assemble.
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