And then there were two . . . Maybe

[CaptnKirk]

With today's Shuttle launch, that reduces the remaining flights to only two more, but there is an 'IF'.

http://flametrench.flatoday.net/

The launch that was scheduled for July has been moved to November (TBD) because of a hardware problem,
and the next schedule on the manifest is now September 16th.
(We were going to attend the July launch, as it's the next to last - now I'll try to make the September one)

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

There is a 'Bonus' mission - they will prepare the Atlantis which launched today as a 'Back-Up' to the Mid-November flight.

They will have 2 extra ET tanks as spares, and could use one to fly to guaranty the success of the final mission.

They could also keep it on reserve along with the other spare tank to fly 2 additional emergency or resupply missions.
If they go unused, the will become static displays probably one at KSC and the other wherever they chose as a
final resting memorial to the Shuttle Space Program.
The remaining Shuttles themselves will be decomissioned for use as museum peices accross the country.

I'd like to see them used for flight missions, one a year until we can get the replacement system up.
That lets us select one flight for 2011 and another for 2012 - and gives us a stop-gap plan for next system
to make it's initial flight in 2013, in whatever form it matures into.
We can fly unmanned capsules to the ISS in 2012, and they can be the pathfinders for the replacement system to become active in 2013.

Everyone wants to bitch about what Obama has done to manned space flight, but remember that Bush
is the one who cancelled the Shuttle in 2006, and then his Administration and Congress
failed to fund a sucessor.

Congress is also bitching about Obama not continuing US Human Space Flight, but have you heard anyone of
these 'Fiscally Responsible Conservatives' introduce any funding plan to advance NASA and their missions?
Of course not, it's all about saving their sorry ass appearances, without actually comitting to pay for what needs to be done.

Hey - GOP, quit obstructing everthing and come up with a funding solution for NASA,
tax breaks for the wealthy won't do it.

 

[dmcowen674]

remember that Bush
is the one who cancelled the Shuttle in 2006, and then his Administration and Congress failed to fund a sucessor.

That's what happens when you trade space for wars for oil and send all manufacturing overseas.

 

[piasabird]

Somehow I dont think Congressmen are actively seeking to move work overseas. Their actions of over-taxation and over regulation are more likely doing the deed for them.