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Discovery approaches its May 15 launch date
missioncontrol:
It's good to see NASA is moving forward with shuttle launch.........
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/04/06/shuttle.rollout/index.html
Gunstar Hero:
I don't think I'd like to rocket into space in a 25 year old vehicle...
When I was a kid, I loved the Space Shuttles. When Challenger exploded, I was devastated, because I figured that was the end. I was so happy when they came back.
As the fleet got older, I wondered when NASA was gonna come up with the next generation Space Shuttle... I mean, after all, these things are 20+ years old. When Columbia went, again, I figured that was the end.
Well here we go again... It kills me to say this, but I think that the Shuttles should have been retired long ago.
JCL:
They're going to fly these things another 5 times and retire them (my prediction, not NASAs plan).
It is really a saving face thing. NASA truly sucks at manned spaceflight these days and the shuttle is really a jobs program. Even if it wasn't an obsolete, dangerous vehicle, and even if NASA wasn't so idiotic as to fly in violation of their own rules, the shuttle would be a bad deal just based on the $1 Billion it costs per launch.
We need cheaper heavy lift capability. With that, all things in space are possible. But we're not going to get that from NASA without some major culture changes.
I'm a big proponent of manned space flight. And I'm really a NASA hater these days.
NASA still does do some good unmanned stuff, but it is an obsticle to manned spaceflight, not a pioneer.
Bones:
NASA has been trying to do more with less $$$ so mistakes are inevitable. Gone are the big budgets of 20-30 years ago.
--- Quote from: JCL on April 08, 2005, 02:56:26 am ---the shuttle would be a bad deal just based on the $1 Billion it costs per launch.
--- End quote ---
Are you sure on this figure?? It really doesn't sound correct.....
JCL:
--- Quote from: BrokenBones1 on April 08, 2005, 08:57:46 am ---NASA has been trying to do more with less $$$ so mistakes are inevitable. Gone are the big budgets of 20-30 years ago.
--- Quote from: JCL on April 08, 2005, 02:56:26 am ---the shuttle would be a bad deal just based on the $1 Billion it costs per launch.
--- End quote ---
Are you sure on this figure?? It really doesn't sound correct.....
--- End quote ---
The whole shuttle program cost about $150 billion. And there have been considerably less than 150 flights. And two shuttles no longer exist, while the rest of the "fleet" is on its last legs. A billion dollars per flight is a low estimate. Just the recurring costs per launch are about $500 million, include the development costs (divided by number of launches). Each flight is far more expensive than NASA ever planned. Reccuring cost per launch were supposed to be 10-20 million dollars. Ooops.
The Shuttle is a colossal failure on so many levels it isn't funny. It is way too expensive. It can't be flown safely (by NASA at least). It can't be flown often. It has no margin of error.
With the money spend on the shuttle, we could have a real space station, safe and cheap heavy lifters. We'de be on the moon today and on the way to Mars. But not with NASA.
Really look at NASA has been doing over the last couple of decades. It is very sad.