NASA weighed retiring Columbia in 2001

[Grasshopper27]

The space shuttle Columbia, lost with its seven-person crew in a catastrophic re-entry accident on Saturday, was considered for retirement in 2001.

The oldest orbiter in the fleet, it had experienced engineering problems before during a long career that begin with the first shuttle mission more than 20 years ago.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/02/01/shuttle.columbia.history/index.html

Hopper

 

[charrison]

we have 3 left, what will we do now?

 

[Zim Hosein]

Since there isn't any replacement that we have at the moment, NASA will be forced to use the 3 shuttlles we have for almost the next 10 years.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Since there isn't any replacement that we have at the moment, NASA will be forced to use the 3 shuttlles we have for almost the next 10 years.

They could always build another one...

I doubt they will, but it is one possible option...

Hopper

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

They need to replace those god awful solid boosters.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Since there isn't any replacement that we have at the moment, NASA will be forced to use the 3 shuttlles we have for almost the next 10 years.

They could always build another one...

I doubt they will, but it is one possible option...

Hopper

I remember hearing today that w/o a complete redesign, they couldn't build a new one due to costs and the technology the shuttles are based on.

 

[wfbberzerker]

i think they will seriously concentrate efforts on designing a new spacecraft, since the shuttle is nearing the end of its lifespan anyways. i'm sure they will continue to use the remaining shuttles, but they will accellerate the time-table for moving to a new vehicle.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
I remember hearing today that w/o a complete redesign, they couldn't build a new one due to costs and the technology the shuttles are based on.

I didn't say it would be cheap or easy, I just said it was a possible option.

BTW, Endevour was reasonably easy and cheap to build because NASA had enough spare parts around (including structual spares) that they put more than 1/2 of it together using spare parts.

None of those exist anymore, so it would have to be built from scratch. Like I said, not likely to happen, but anything is possible.

Hopper