Endeavour space shuttle makes last touch-down

[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 )