Endeavour space shuttle makes last touch-down

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

I doubt this will be the end of space travel for the U.S. I believe there will be a next generation space shuttle at some point. It may not happen for a while, but I think the desire for that sort of scientific research and understanding is too strong to keep us grounded or reliant upon the Russians.

Exactly, some people think that this the end of the US space program.

The STS was a compromise design and frankly was not the optimum platform. In a car analogy, we are in the Model T eara. Should we have stuck with the model T for the next 90 years? Of course not.

Well the STS was the Model T of space exploration. Time to move on to the next model. Hopefully politics won't force this new program to be as much a compromise program as the STS, but that's politics for you.

Right now, we have a way of getting to the ISS. The US does not need to build a new system to get humans to the ISS. We need to build a new system capable of more than the existing STS. And that will take time, which we have plenty of, and money which we ain't got at this time.

[Oberon]

Oh, I'm not saying that it's the end of US space travel, I'm just surprised that this wasn't thought of twenty years ago and a new design brought in to be put into service when the shuttles retired. But...like I said, we've done the same thing in our military so I really can't talk.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I think everyone is still dumbfounded that NASA now has no way to get their astronauts to the ISS except to rely on the Russians. Then again, I'm from a country that has carriers but no CAP aircraft for them.

Lovely pic by the way.

Originally Posted by Oberon

Oh, I'm not saying that it's the end of US space travel, I'm just surprised that this wasn't thought of twenty years ago and a new design brought in to be put into service when the shuttles retired. But...like I said, we've done the same thing in our military so I really can't talk.

Precisely

[krashkart]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Oh, I'm not saying that it's the end of US space travel, I'm just surprised that this wasn't thought of twenty years ago and a new design brought in to be put into service when the shuttles retired. But...like I said, we've done the same thing in our military so I really can't talk.

They've had many different proposals run through over the years that would have replaced the Shuttle. The problem has always been a lack of interest and a lack of funding. Without the interest you can't get the funding. Much of it is political and completely over my head.



Edit:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Right now, we have a way of getting to the ISS. The US does not need to build a new system to get humans to the ISS. We need to build a new system capable of more than the existing STS. And that will take time, which we have plenty of, and money which we ain't got at this time.

We can get there on the Soyuz until a private sector crew vehicle is approved. Supply flights to the ISS will also be privatized. I'm not very thrilled by either of the private sector prospects, but at least it's something to work with. When NASA does finally come back though I hope they have full support from the White House and Congress to build a fleet of heavy lifters. Expendables maybe? If it can be done more economically than an STS mission and put more payload into orbit per launch, I wouldn't shed a single tear over my tax dollars being spent on it.


Edit 2:

Would it hurt if NASA took a cue from RSC-Energia and started generating government revenue by providing more commercial launch services? (Imagine that; NASA as an actual industry and not some political lap dog )

[razark]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Exactly, some people think that this the end of the US space program.

For a lot of people, STS is the only part of the space program they remember seeing. There's a lot more of the space program. There's a rover on Mars still running, plus countless other manned missions ongoing or being prepared. But shuttle is what people think of when they hear NASA.

Originally Posted by Platapus

We need to build a new system capable of more than the existing STS.

Just so long as it's not another flags and footprints mission, but a lasting first step this time around.