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30 August 2008

NASA Intersted in Extending the Shuttle's Life


For whom the bell does not toll

Contrary to what we had been led to believe, NASA is now interested extending the aged Shuttle fleet's life until 2015, or whenever we get Orion off the ground.  As I understand, NASA has already started dismantling the infrastructure used to manufacture and maintain the Shuttle and claims that money needed to operate the Shuttle fleet takes away from Orion.  So either we'd have reinvest in the Shuttle infrastructure, delay Orion, or NASA sees a huge budget increase.  Keeping mind the status of our economy, which do you think is more likely.  I don't see NASA getting a budget increase.  No matter who gets elected.

In addition, how much does our new missle defense agreement with Poland and subsequent Russian saber rattling have to do with this new study?  It will be interesting to see how all this plays out.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would be willing to bet that this is the first tangible sign that NASA and/or the Bush Administration is having second thoughts about relying on Russia for space lift.

Blake Ross said...

Yourr the best