Re: NASA moon trip video

Andrew Swallow (am.swallow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) writes:
Andre Lieven wrote:

Andrew Swallow (am.swallow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) writes:

Chris Adams wrote:

Once upon a time, Andrew Swallow <am.swallow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said:

[snip]

Ah well. Goodbye to NASA's manned space programme.

Based on what ?

The current one has already been candled. NASA will not have a system
of launching men in 5 years time.

As I said, the administration that will be in office when 2010 arrives,
is not the one that made the stop flying the shuttle in 2010 decision.

It was fun watching you. I hope there will be a new one in 10 to 15
years time.

There is one; its made up on many unmanned space and planetary probes.

Those missions still unmanned.

Indeed. They are doing great science.

If we really want a manned space program, then we need to answer the
basic question of " where can we send human manned ships, where the
cost of putting people in them gets us a similar rise in return,
no matter how that return is to be defined ".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4627246.stm
[quote]
Now Nasa has to make up for lost time and somehow finish off the ISS
before the remaining shuttle fleet is retired in four years' time.

Dr Griffin claims it can be done, but only by using all the remaining
planned shuttle missions to take up and bolt on the outstanding modules.
[/quote]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4263106.stm
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/exploration/spacecraft/cev.html

Not at all impossible, and the fact remains that the decision to
retire the shuttle fleet in 2010, made by the Bush administration,
will see another administration in office before that date arrives.

Andre

I would strongly advise against trying to extend the life of the
shuttles; NASA would have to cancel the new rocket programme to pay for
it.

Thats a possibility, sure.

NASA's problem is how to maintain funding until the new rockets are on
missions with high viewing figures. It has a different president and
cutbacks due to recession(s) to worry about. Late Apollo and Blue
Streak (UK) are not optimistic signs.
Note: The "Departure Stage" can perform missions in various Earth orbits
whilst the Lunar Landers are developed. Pity it does not have a Shuttle
like arm.

Well, whats NASA most needs is to stop pining for the glory Apollo
days of blank cheques. They were an abberation, and are very unlikely
to ever return.

Now, most folks on a newsgroup dedicated to a space based teevee
show, are likely to be more informed than most others, and have a
more positive view of the usefullness and importance of spaceflight,
manned and unmanned.

But, few minorities get to write the budgets... And, I would unhappily
accept a period of no manned flight, as it was for the US between
1975 ( Apollo 18, aka Apollo-Soyuz ) and 1981 ( STS-1 ), if it leaves
unmanned space and planetary science ungutted. Flying a few more
shuttle missions, or pushing more $$$ at Stick/CEV to get it to
fly closer in time to the last STS flight, while taking the $$$
from the unmanned side, as is being considered, is a Bad Deal.

Who knows ? Perhaps having Americans have to fly more often
on Russian apaceships might get Congress to pay a bit more...

And, theres always the Chinese...

Andre


.

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