B
bdewoody
Guest
Now that it appears that the Constellation program probably including the Orion Capsule is dead or seriously delayed, why not delay reconfiguring the launch pads and continue using the Shuttles a while longer. Reconfiguring the launch pads was always given as a big reason for ending the shuttle program. But now since it looks like there won't be a launch vehicle to reconfigure the pads for why not wait a while. I'm not proposing that the shuttles be used beyond their safe service life but why cut them off at some predetermined fixed point. It can be determined during the servicing period whether one of the shuttles has developed an unsafe condition. From what I gather a great deal of the hardware is replaced periodically and the airframes are pretty robust. It's not an ideal situation but why burn your bridges before the road ahead is clear.
The B-52's and P-3's have been flying for close to fifty years and while I understand they are not space vehicles they are subjected to a lot of stress and they keep soldiering on.
Also this way the talented people who work at the various NASA facilities dedicated to human space flight will be able to be kept employed. I'd hate to hear that those dedicated guys like the close up crew end up pumping gas at a filling station.
The B-52's and P-3's have been flying for close to fifty years and while I understand they are not space vehicles they are subjected to a lot of stress and they keep soldiering on.
Also this way the talented people who work at the various NASA facilities dedicated to human space flight will be able to be kept employed. I'd hate to hear that those dedicated guys like the close up crew end up pumping gas at a filling station.