Shuttle Extension 2015, the buzz Options

[PDP8E]

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/ind....xml&coll=1

This is instead of 2010 -- still preliminary though.......hmmmmm....

[Exploitcorporati...]

Great points from Doug and Wayne Hale's blog...I love his self-description as a "shuttle hugger". I'm admittedly torn on many accounts, have a not-so-closet emotional attachment to this vehicle from childhood, and would love to see it keep flying for a spell...but the safety, component, and technical considerations seem insurmountable for more than a few extra missions beyond the 2010 date. The AMS should fly on the proposed 134 mission if the right parts are available, but beyond that...

As a side note, I hope this often flawed but beautiful partnership can continue irrespective of the current difficulties. The plotline of "2010" suddenly seems prescient again.

Sorry to break with PDP8E's excellent suggestion to keep this potential powder keg limited to real news, but I've watched this development with ears perked up, and was excited to find this thread here.

I propose the remaining orbiters be converted to pedicabs. Thirty bicycles on each side of the fuselage should be enough to get one up the hills of Seattle or san Francisco. They can be amphibious like the tourist "Ducks" to meet Greg's suggestion in the middle.