Shuttle Extension 2015, the buzz |
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Shuttle Extension 2015, the buzz |
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#16
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Founder ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 ![]() |
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#17
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![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 ![]() |
-------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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#18
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Senior Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1018 Joined: 29-November 05 From: Seattle, WA, USA Member No.: 590 ![]() |
Wayne Hale's thoughts on closing the Shuttle program provide some solid organizational and technical background. I had not seen this before, and I found it enlightening and depressing at the same time. If things are as he says (and he's very convincing) then while they might add ONE shuttle flight to the list, maybe two, that's really it -- even if Congress wanted to throw money at it. By the time they could scare up new vendors for the parts and get those qualified it would almost be time for the new boosters anyway. Never mind dvandorn's equally serious arguments. These arguments seem so strong, I wonder why the idea even comes up now? This seems simple enough for NASA to explain to the press. Maybe they need a "rude Q&A" page on "Why we can't extend the shuttle program." :-) --Greg Fill in the blank. 7 letters, first is D. Debated? --Greg (ducks) :-) |
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#19
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![]() Merciless Robot ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Admin Posts: 8783 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 ![]() |
Speaking absolutely apolitically, there seem to be a number of vehicles under development from many sources that could support ISS logistics to varying degrees. Jules Verne is still docked, for example, and IIRC Japan is developing something similar. I've also heard that private companies like SpaceX are interested in entering the market if & when Falcon 9 becomes a reliable reality.
Supply chains, like anything else, are horribly vulnerable to single-point (in this case, single-channel) failures unless enough redundancy is built in to the system. It would be interesting to know if these emerging alternatives are being considered as part of the Shuttle retirement decision. -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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#20
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![]() Member ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 753 Joined: 23-October 04 From: Greensboro, NC USA Member No.: 103 ![]() |
Last word on the subject, I promise, but I found the perfect illustration of the Apollo X crew "assuming the position" for political discourse.
![]() -------------------- Jonathan Ward
Manning the LCC at http://www.apollolaunchcontrol.com |
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