Philosophy
Is it time to retire the current space shuttles?
Yes...4
No...2
Well, Shuttle Atlantis lifted off without a problem today but faces issues of old age, space debris, risky Hubble Telescope repairs, docking with the ISS, and a trip back to Earth. The Shuttle Atlantis first saw service in October 1985 and has completed 29 successful missions during that 24 year period. It has traveled about 104,531 miles and spent about 257 days in flight. The major focus of this mission is to repair an aged and broken space telescope...just to squeeze a few more years from its probing eyes. The Hubble Telescope has been a problem child from the beginning and is dying. But it will be replaced by the Webb Telescope. Nevertheless, this repair mission is quite risky--some 5 hours of extra vehicular work in a very dirty area of space. The risk is so high that a second shuttle is ready to blast off if an emergency arises. All of the shuttles are old. They have been retrofitted and spiffed up over the years but it is still a vulnerable and expensive craft serving space exploration well beyond its prime. I think it is time to ground the vehicles and continue research on alternate vehicles...and vigorously explore the use of probes, satellites, and the like.
- Nasa's Garage Sale
Have a few extra bucks? Get involved in NASA huge sale...and I mean huge. "NASA Garage Sale Includes Shuttles, Engines, Space Suits" by Jason Paur January 21st, 2010 Wired Looking for a good deal during the recession? Space geeks don’t have to...
- Shuttles--others See Problem Too
"Space Shuttle: Same Old Damage, Same Old Worries" by Jeffrey Kluger May. 13th, 2009 Time Here are three things NASA can do to become a safer agency: stop flying Atlantis, stop flying Endeavour, stop flying Discovery. Those, of course, are NASA's...
- James Webb Space Telescope Game
...
- 1 In 318...odds Are Not Good
"NASA: Shuttle's Risk of Debris Strike Up 6 Percent" by Clara Moskowitz March 6th, 2009 space.com The recent surge in space junk created by an accidental satellite collision last month has bumped up the upcoming space shuttle mission's chances...
- Time To Retire The Hubble Space Telescope
Edwin Hubble The Hubble Space Telescope has served well in its short tenure and will for a while provide more breathtaking photographs. Nothing lasts forever, especially mechanical devices. It just isn't safe or cost effective to send a crew for...
Philosophy
"Retire shuttles" poll
Is it time to retire the current space shuttles?
Yes...4
No...2
Well, Shuttle Atlantis lifted off without a problem today but faces issues of old age, space debris, risky Hubble Telescope repairs, docking with the ISS, and a trip back to Earth. The Shuttle Atlantis first saw service in October 1985 and has completed 29 successful missions during that 24 year period. It has traveled about 104,531 miles and spent about 257 days in flight. The major focus of this mission is to repair an aged and broken space telescope...just to squeeze a few more years from its probing eyes. The Hubble Telescope has been a problem child from the beginning and is dying. But it will be replaced by the Webb Telescope. Nevertheless, this repair mission is quite risky--some 5 hours of extra vehicular work in a very dirty area of space. The risk is so high that a second shuttle is ready to blast off if an emergency arises. All of the shuttles are old. They have been retrofitted and spiffed up over the years but it is still a vulnerable and expensive craft serving space exploration well beyond its prime. I think it is time to ground the vehicles and continue research on alternate vehicles...and vigorously explore the use of probes, satellites, and the like.
- Nasa's Garage Sale
Have a few extra bucks? Get involved in NASA huge sale...and I mean huge. "NASA Garage Sale Includes Shuttles, Engines, Space Suits" by Jason Paur January 21st, 2010 Wired Looking for a good deal during the recession? Space geeks don’t have to...
- Shuttles--others See Problem Too
"Space Shuttle: Same Old Damage, Same Old Worries" by Jeffrey Kluger May. 13th, 2009 Time Here are three things NASA can do to become a safer agency: stop flying Atlantis, stop flying Endeavour, stop flying Discovery. Those, of course, are NASA's...
- James Webb Space Telescope Game
...
- 1 In 318...odds Are Not Good
"NASA: Shuttle's Risk of Debris Strike Up 6 Percent" by Clara Moskowitz March 6th, 2009 space.com The recent surge in space junk created by an accidental satellite collision last month has bumped up the upcoming space shuttle mission's chances...
- Time To Retire The Hubble Space Telescope
Edwin Hubble The Hubble Space Telescope has served well in its short tenure and will for a while provide more breathtaking photographs. Nothing lasts forever, especially mechanical devices. It just isn't safe or cost effective to send a crew for...