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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

No US shuttle launch before March 2006 (Update

The US space agency NASA said Thursday it would keep the troubled space shuttle grounded until at least March 2006, scrubbing the next launch originally slated for September.

Shuttle engineers need more time to fix the problem of foam insulation peeling off the craft's huge external fuel tank during launch -- which blighted the recent Discovery mission and doomed the Columbia orbiter in 2003.

"From an overall standpoint we think really March 4 is the timeframe we are looking at," said NASA associate administrator for space operations Bill Gerstenmaier.

"The teams are making very good progress. But we're still not complete."

NASA administrator Michael Griffin told reporters the agency had laid out a "conservative" time-frame for the next mission.

More here: www.physorg.com/news5879.html

[rajasi]

Well I just hope they fix the problem before sending more astronauts up there. What happened to Columbia shuttle was heart breaking and knowing that NASA took the same risk again was even worst. But I am happy to know that they were able to find and fix the problem and bring our astronauts back home safely.

I hope that they resolve this problem before they launch anymore shuttles.

Rajasi.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Rajasi,

Now, I'm a great supporter of Manned Space flight.

Followed it since childhood, had all the models and can ring off the Original Seven astronauts in my sleep, but...

The Shuttle from the start was built with severe cut-backs and outdated technology. It's "attached" body design just asked for complications that were un-necessary and ultimately met with tragic consequences. And, near Earth only missions have severely curtailed man's exploration of space. The space truck has it's place, but should not be the sole vehicle in manned space travel.

The new design, with shuttle encapsulated on top of the Solid Rocket Booster is much more superior and inherently safer. It was the original plan to do so, but the attached version was supposed to ignite the public interest in a new awareness of spaceflight, since it looked so different.

Now NASA has to fly Atlantis with the same dangers, and hopefully repair the Hubble before the entire fleet is dry-docked. I'm looking forward to regaining the glory days of NASA once again.

Trust in a bad design...never smart.

[rajasi]

So am I. Hopefully the "glory days" are not too far away. It would be sad if they have to ground space travel for long time.

[Rocketman]

Oh joy, I come back to read, and see that we're still low-rating the shuttle program.

I wish people would learn to accept the shuttle for the good things that it has done, rather than denounce it for the totally uncontrollable failures. Just as you all are entitled to your opinions, so am I. The shuttle has it's troubles, and that I am not disagreeing with, but to keep going on harping about it is well more than enough already.

I really don't see the point in beating a dead horse. The way I figure it, the shuttle has been more reliable than unreliable, I'm sure that's just makes you all irritated.

Why do I defend the space shuttle? Simply, because it has been an instrument, and an icon of our country's presence in space (after 62 miles up it's all the same), simply because it has done the job time, and time again. Sure I don't like what happened to Challenger or Columbia, and it is indeed heart breaking, but continuing to berate the shuttle program is no more than wasted energy.

How many times can you hit a wasp's nest with a broom handle, and not get stung? Tradgedy is bound to occur at some point or another irregardless of the spacecraft's design or reliability, it's simply Murphy's law, "What can go wrong, will go wrong". No one at NASA wanted anything bad to happen to the crews that were lost. Now that I think of it, I'm reminded of a billboard I once saw, that read.

After a bit of googling I'm unable to find the picture, but it goes something like this.

NASA
What? And you think you're better?

I find it a little amusing

I know this discussion is open, and not a matter of winning or losing, but it really agitates me a lot when people blame others for things that no one can control.

When the Solid Rocket Boosters ignite, you are committed to flight, nothing can be done at that point. Would you take the risk? If I were given the oppurtunity I would take the risk, because it's more than who I am or will ever be... and if dying is a result... then that's just how it has to be. I knew the risk.

The proof is in the pudding. When you constantly down talk something the outcome is usually undesireable, eventually. I'm sure you all do not see it my way ;D

Enough said, end of diatribe.

[Rocketman]

rajasi said:

So am I. Hopefully the "glory days" are not too far away. It would be sad if they have to ground space travel for long time.

I agree wholeheartedly. Think positive!

[stargazer]

Rocketman I fully agree with you. If I was given the chance to go up in the Shuttle I would. I know the risk I would face but if you think about what you could do and see its well worth the trip. A while back I posted some stuff that has come out of the Spacxe Shuttle program and the things I read about were just amazing. So many good things have come out of it, so many life saving techiniques. New medicine's. The list goes on.

All of the Astronuts who get onboard the Shuttle know what they are facing and do it with PRIDE. They have accepted their fate. A friend of mine is supose to go for a ride on the Shuttle to the ISS. We dont know when but he is really looking foward to it.He is going to let me copy any and all pics he takes from up there. I cant wait. I will pay very close attention to his flight.

So as for my thoughts and feelings on the Space Shuttle I think we should contunie to fly the MAJESTIC BIRD called the Space Shuttle. Contunie to learn what we can. As someone once said to me without the Shuttle HOW would the ISS get done as we are the only country with a way of getting it done.

So now that Ive said my peace and my 2 cents I'll go back to my corner and shut up.