It's still 19 Shuttle flights to go, new launch dates

[franson_space]

Four launches in 2006, six in 2007, 08 (Atlantis retired), 3 in 2009, Endeavour, then Discovery retired.<br /><br />Bet that's going to give Spacefire a headache <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?id=3946<br /><br />"Running through to 2009 - to give the STS (Space Transportation System) program a buffer zone to the targeted retirement in 2010 - the <b> October 19th FAWG Planning Manifest 05D-12 </b> points to four flights in 2006."<br /><br />Option of US core only in building the ISS with Atlantis on STS120 in June 2007.<br /><br />Launch dates listed at the bottom of the article.

 

[vt_hokie]

Hope they really do get in 19 more flights! I wonder why Endeavour, the youngest orbiter with the fewest flights, is being retired before Discovery, the oldest remaining orbiter... <br /><br /><i>"Option of US core only in building the ISS with Atlantis on STS120 in June 2007"</i><br /><br />As I've observed before, I don't understand how stopping at "US core complete" makes any sense, given that the additional solar arrays and Node 2 serve absolutely no purpose other than to provide power and a physical connection for the European and Japanese laboratory modules!

 

[bushuser]

I think it relates to the maintenance/upgrade cycle... Endeavor will be due next for extended maintenance after a few more flights.<br /><br />Hopefully alternative transport will deliver the orphan modules to ISS, albeit very late.

 

[franson_space]

"I wonder why Endeavour, the youngest orbiter with the fewest flights, is being retired before Discovery, the oldest remaining orbiter..."<br /><br />Says in the article.<br /><br />" This year will also mark the retirement of Atlantis. OV-104 would have been due for her Orbiter Major Maintenance (OMM) period in 2008, thus deciding her own retirement automatically, given the two years it takes to re-fit the Orbiters - a pointless exercise given the 2010 retirement target."

 

[franson_space]

"Hopefully alternative transport will deliver the orphan modules to ISS, albeit very late."<br /><br />Yeah, Flightstar, a United Space Alliance guy on the forum at nasaspaceflight.com says he believes that's a chance on page four of the thread that is linked to the article.

 

[dobbins]

Engineering sense and budget sense are two different things. The budget is driven by fiscal years not calendar years. This schedule would bring US core complete in FY 2007 with a mission left for Hubble in FY 2007.<br /><br />The others will depend on funding for FY 2008 and FY 2009.<br /><br />

 

[vt_hokie]

Ah, budget sense....just goes to show how illogical bean counters are! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />How does NASA intend to handle things like CMG replacement after the shuttle is retired? What if two or more CMG's fail right after the last shuttle mission, and the heavy lift vehicle is still many years away?

 

[dobbins]

Bean counters aren't illogical enough to build bridges to nowhere, that is what Congress does. Congress critters don't care if budget cuts don't make a lick of sense, if they cost more money in the long run, all they care about is telling voters "I cut wasteful spending".<br /><br />There is a method to the madness, painting the bullseye on NASA's past instead of it's future if the budget ax does fall. If the US core is complete then that makes a shuttle carrying stuff for a "pack of foreigners" a more likely target than ESAS. If the Shuttle and the ISS are blunders that makes them a more likely target than the VSE.<br /><br />

 

[vogon13]

I have a feeling the new external cameras are going to record a show stopper on just about about every flight now till retirement.<br /><br />Sigh.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"How does NASA intend to handle things like CMG replacement after the shuttle is retired?"<br /><br />By trying to prestage on orbit as many spares (that can't fit in a progress, ATV or HTV) as possible. Fortuantely, HTV will have a good bit of capacity of large external ORU. Of course that has a lot of assumptions in it like what will break and what won't...

 

[erioladastra]

"Where does the Hubble mission fit in the projected flow? "<br /><br />Target right now is Dec 2007/Jan 2008. It won't get a full go until 121 launches and that, plus analysis, shows HST is "safe". But after Dec 2007 there is a $10M/month hit to not launching.

 

[askold]

Publishing a list and launching a shuttle are 2 different things. I'll wait to be impressed until after the next shuttle launch ...

 

[shuttle_man]

"They are NET dates as noted. I posted for those interested."<br /><br />I believe he was talking about the article in the first post, given he was replying to franson space. The article has all the NET dates through to retirement. I don't think he was saying what he said to you as your seven dates are the same as in the article's first seven, then thru to 19. <br /><br />The article has the same disclaimer about the launch dates not being final finalized.

 

[vt_hokie]

Is Barbara Morgan still going to get a chance to fly?

 

[SpaceKiwi]

What is the latest thinking on the foam issue? I thought the '107 foam shed had been established as related to application of a foam repair to the ET? This being so, then we are not really waiting for a 'fix' per se, as an 'ET upgrade' to eliminate potential but unrelated (to '107) foam problems down the road? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[dobbins]

STS-118<br />

 

[erioladastra]

"Is than money that goes to the Goddard ctr for support? "<br /><br />Sorry, Griffin didn't spell that out.

 

[dobbins]

Is any level of foam loss considered acceptable?<br /><br />If not, that is a pretty high bar y'all are setting.<br /><br />

 

[drwayne]

There was a size criteria if I recall correctly.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[rvastro]

I think Morgan goes up on 117.

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">Running through to 2009 - to give the STS (Space Transportation System) program a buffer zone to the targeted retirement in 2010</font>/i><br /><br />That is a pretty ambitious schedule. I suspect if NASA can get four shuttle launches in 2006, opposition to completing ISS will largely quiet down (there will always be <i>some</i> opposition).<br /><br />I like the idea of targeting a mid-2009 shutdown of STS. The only real way of saving money on STS/ISS is to get the construction done early. Completing construction 12-18 months ahead of time could save $5 billion.<br /><br />Lets hope for no more hiccups for the next four years!</i>

 

[askold]

I wish there were some real penalites associated with NASA failing to meet goals it sets for itself - like in the real world.<br /><br />If NASA can't fly the shuttle, then maybe it can't launch the CEV or accomplish any of its other goals. If NASA can't fly these 19 missions, then Congress should take another look at the VSE and reconsider whether the program should be funded at all.

 

[dobbins]

"If NASA can't fly these 19 missions, then Congress should take another look at the VSE and reconsider whether the program should be funded at all."<br /><br />By that standard the funding for the ISS would have been cut off years ago.<br /><br />

 

[vogon13]

Unusual precedent. it would wipe out every big ticket weapons contract the Pentagon is pursuing.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[askold]

"By that standard the funding for the ISS would have been cut off years ago. "<br /><br />Yes, that's exactly my point.