8.04.2005
The shuttle is not a lemon
Last week, Mike wrote:
I believe that it is time that NASA created it's own "kick-ass ride" like the ones in Armageddon...something state-of-the-art, that is more cost effective to launch, can withstand more dents and dings, and is more equipped to take the NASA of today into its visions of tomorrow.Behold!
Because that's a New York Times article, membership login is required. Of course, we know what to do about that.
Redesign or no, I hope to see alot more from the private space industry. This article is pretty slick. My favorite quote:
"I predict that within about three years of private human orbital flights...you'll have the first private teams of people stockpiling fuel on orbit and making a bee-line for the Moon."I can only hope. The eventual outcome may likely give the Russians some healthy competition.
DATA OUTPUT: Jessi @ 10:14 AM
DATA INPUT = 4
4 Comments:
If I emplied that the shuttle was a lemon, I did not mean to (if that comment was directed to my post, anyways). In my mind, it's like upgrading your car...when the repairs start to cost more then the worth of the vehicle, maybe it's time to start checking into a new vehicle!
I, too, am very excited about private space ventures. Once the private sector hits space on a normal interval, it'll start picking up exponentially (look at our past with shipping, and then flying...it tends to be fast and inevitable). I wouldn't be suprised if our first moon colony is from the private sector!
I can't even imagine looking down on earth from the moon. I have dreamed of doing that for as long as I can remember. I only wonder, are we really ready to be a space faring people? Would we not make a garbage dump out of the moon or turn mars into a strip mall? I know your the eternal optimist, how do you reconcile these concerns?
The same way I reconcile similar concerns here on Earth. We will find away Matt, we always do.
Is mankind ready? That's not a question I've bothered to speculate on because I don't think space exploration has anything to do with being ready. I think it has more to do with instinct, but I won't get into that because then I'd be branching into a completely different subject.
With our rapidly growing technologies, I envision some highly advanced recycling methods will be available by the time a bustling moon/mars colony becomes reality. And let me just say that I am all for the commercialization of space. If there is business in space, it will be that much easier for those of us who not billionaires to get there. In twenty or less years, a flight to the moon may cost as much as it takes to fly from Seattle to Los Angeles. That's the beauty of it...
Looks like the space race is heating up again.
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Moscow (UPI) Apr 8, 2005
Russian space authorities said they will pursue a new manned shuttle spacecraft to take people and cargo to the International Space Station.
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Can't seem to locate any recent news on our own space shuttle development.
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