Comments on: Shuttle supporters on the offensive

By: wes carr

wes carr — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:29:24 +0000

The Shuttle is the reason our manned space program has been
stuck in low Earth orbit for almost four decades. The only reason
the ISS was built was for the Shuttle to have somewhere to go. The
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster and Dragon capsule can handle crew and
cargo runs to the space station. And unlike Ares I it is closer to
flight status. Keeping the shuttle flying is irresponsible at best,
dangerous at worst.

By: Bruce Behrhorst

Bruce Behrhorst — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:08:53 +0000

Shuttle winged orbiter technology is still valuable!
Despite perceived technical bugs. This technology should be transfered to private consortium to develop (Shuttle C). Human or/and robotic operations with winged orbiter opens up more opportunities in commercial space operations than does capsule reentry.

Mr. Shelby has a point. Gov’t has already committed Ares. So it’s time to work hard and deliver Ares. There are plenty of options in stacking multistage or parallel staging that is scalable. Since the gov’t wants to go down that track this is very good technology.

May the best Gov’t launch system win, transfer Shuttle technology to privateers and fly Ares ASAP.

By: Space Politics » Shelby to Ares’ defense

Space Politics » Shelby to Ares’ defense — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:19:33 +0000

[…] members of Florida’s Congressional delegation push to keep the space shuttle flying after 2010, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) remains on the side of Constellation, particularly the Ares 1. He told […]

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:59:19 +0000

Keep the shuttle flying? Are you people serious? It is nothing more than a fraudulent jobs programs! NASA have had their chance with manned failures for many years… it is time for the private sector such as SpaceX and Bigelow to fill that manned spaceflight void. The dark ages of NASA’s monopoly on manned spaceflight should end.

However, NASA (or is it JPL?) can still do the robotic explorations very well – at least THAT part of NASA actually does something worthwhile and produces results!

By: Ron Carlson

Ron Carlson — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:58:20 +0000

It is obvious that blasting off from Earth on a rocket is a dangerous business.

Despite that, many thousands have applied to be astronauts.

All astronauts are adults and paid well for the job they do and the risks they take.

I would bet money that more people are killed in traffic accidents in Washington, D.C. each year than in all the space programs of all space faring nations through out history.

Yet we don’t make manufacturing, selling and driving cars illegal as a result.

By: Bob Mahoney

Bob Mahoney — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:35:47 +0000

I am curious. I hate to tread dark pathways, but supposing the current administration fully endorses the option of flying the shuttle past 2010 and we end up doing so for a number of years. If, God forbid, another shuttle accident were then to occur, then

a) How will the administration’s role in the decision to keep flying (countering the recommendations/policy of the previous admin) play in the press?

b) Assuming that the Ares development is still underway, how will it be impacted by such an accident?

c) Can the US human spaceflight program survive another such catastrophe given that support remains tepid at best?

By: Ron Carlson

Ron Carlson — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:55:31 +0000

I think it makes the most sense to keep the shuttle flying until Ares I and Orion are online.

Who’s bright idea was it to retire the Shuttles in 2010 and leave America at the mercy of the Russians to get to the International Space Station?

Congress could easily loosen up the purse strings and allow NASA $20 billion per year and a yearly 5% increase in their budget.

Congress certainly isn’t shy about giving crooks and thieves on Wall street many hundreds of billions that will never be seen again.

By: chuck2200

chuck2200 — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:59:11 +0000

If Shuttle is to be extended it will need tanks.
Is there any sign of a cooperative effort between the Florida (KSC) and Louisiana (MAF) delegations?