Space Shuttle

TrinidadGT20 · September 7th, 2004, 05:44

Can anyone tell me the status of when the shuttles are going to fly again? The Columbia was destroyed in February 2003 and I haven't heard a whole lot since. Are they still investigating that incident? Have they determined the cause? I'm hoping the shuttles are back in orbit really soon. The last I heard was April/May of 2005.

How about the shuttles' replacements? The current shuttles have been around since the late 1970's and I'm wondering if there is a replacement in the works.

SteveC · September 7th, 2004, 07:28

NASA - Return to Flight

Mr_Creepy · September 7th, 2004, 07:51

NASA needs a new website. I had to click through 3 or 4 topics to find the date - March 2005 - of the intended launch window.

SteveC · September 7th, 2004, 08:04

I didn't have enough patience to dig that deep. I just found the website and then bailed out. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

rv7 · September 7th, 2004, 13:26

The news was reporting that the NASA Shuttle Assembly building received some damage from Hurricane Frances. They said that this would push the next launch date back. Don't quote me on all of this...it's just what the news reported and we all know how off they can be....especially with aviation. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

flyover · September 7th, 2004, 13:56

[ QUOTE ]
NASA needs a new website. [ /quote]

More importantly they need a new space vehicle. Shooting a glider up on the back of a rocket? Come on.

kellwolf · September 7th, 2004, 14:56

[ QUOTE ]
More importantly they need a new space vehicle. Shooting a glider up on the back of a rocket? Come on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, but....we're going to Mars? Remember? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I agree with this. NASA's still living in the stone age as far as space delivery vehicles go. There's TONS of ideas on the drawing board (most of them MUCH more cost efficient), but there's no funding for the projects.

ready2fly · September 7th, 2004, 15:56

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
More importantly they need a new space vehicle. Shooting a glider up on the back of a rocket? Come on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, but....we're going to Mars? Remember? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I agree with this. NASA's still living in the stone age as far as space delivery vehicles go. There's TONS of ideas on the drawing board (most of them MUCH more cost efficient), but there's no funding for the projects.

[/ QUOTE ]
Which is exactly why space exploration should be taken OUT of the hands of the federal govt.

jonnyb · September 7th, 2004, 16:37

I love Natalie Portman.

ready2fly · September 7th, 2004, 16:47

[ QUOTE ]
I love Natalie Portman.

[/ QUOTE ]
Second!!

TrinidadGT20 · September 7th, 2004, 16:59

So what you're saying is I should take Natalie Portman on a trip to mars? Sounds good to me! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

The only problem with taking space travel out of the hands of the government is who the heck is going to pay for it?

flyover · September 7th, 2004, 19:39

[ QUOTE ]
The only problem with taking space travel out of the hands of the government is who the heck is going to pay for it?

[/ QUOTE ]

Whoever has the money and wants to do it. What's the problem?

kellwolf · September 7th, 2004, 21:38

Worked for the airlines. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Seriously, the X-prize has really lit a fire under private industry as far as space travel. None of these guys is going after the money offered by the prize. They'll spend three times that getting it. It's the ability to be first non-government in space. Hell, the Russians have already turned it into a rich man tourist business. Just ask Timberlake or whoever that ex-boy band guy was.

rv7 · September 7th, 2004, 21:54

[ QUOTE ]
Just ask Timberlake or whoever that ex-boy band guy was

[/ QUOTE ]
I thought that he never actually made it into space? Just did a lot of the training and then didn't pay for the rest or something like that?

kellwolf · September 7th, 2004, 21:56

He might not have. I know he paid a lot of money to them or something like that. Either way, the demand is there for those that can afford it. Rich playboys are the ones that originally got the airlines started.

flyover · September 8th, 2004, 07:55

[ QUOTE ]
He might not have. I know he paid a lot of money to them or something like that. Either way, the demand is there for those that can afford it. Rich playboys are the ones that originally got the airlines started.

[/ QUOTE ]

The driving force will be commercial interests. There are already people providing private lift for satellites. If someone sees a profit potential for putting men in space, they'll do it, no problem.

The great crime is this. In the 1950s we well on the way to developing reusable space craft, flying into space instead of rocketing into space. All that momentum was lost when we decided to use our German rocket scientists to get into a rocket race with the Soviet's German rocket scientists. Of course the driving force behind that was ICBMs more than space exploration.

Imagine what we would be flying now if we had turned our space program over to the likes of Kelly Johnson.

It was a mistake that we need to fix now and not keep beating the same old tired "glider on a rocket" drum.

Mr_Creepy · September 8th, 2004, 08:44

So far no private sector is willing to explore space. It takes an awfully large amount of coin to get a pound of anything up in to orbit.

Minnesota_Flyer · September 8th, 2004, 10:34

It's all about the Space Elevator baby!!

MF

SteveC · September 8th, 2004, 10:44

[ QUOTE ]
It's all about the Space Elevator baby!!

MF

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep. Here's some more background from a post a few months back.

flyover · September 8th, 2004, 11:22

[ QUOTE ]
So far no private sector is willing to explore space. It takes an awfully large amount of coin to get a pound of anything up in to orbit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Which means that space "exploration" flunks the test for good investment of taxpayer dollars. Of course from my point of view almost everything the federal government does flunks that test.

tonyw · September 8th, 2004, 11:33

[ QUOTE ]
Which means that space "exploration" flunks the test for good investment of taxpayer dollars. Of course from my point of view almost everything the federal government does flunks that test.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's basic research, with no immediate opportunity for a return on investment. This is the kind of stuff that the government must fund, because the private sector isn't going to. Nor should they. It's not a good use of shareholder money to invest in research that has no real chance for a return on investment.

But without a solid basic research program, we won't come up with the new discoveries that end up driving a lot of innovation and applied research.

There's that "promote the general welfare" thing again. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

September 7th, 2004, 05:44	#1
TrinidadGT20 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Red Sox Nation Posts: 1,516	Space Shuttle Can anyone tell me the status of when the shuttles are going to fly again? The Columbia was destroyed in February 2003 and I haven't heard a whole lot since. Are they still investigating that incident? Have they determined the cause? I'm hoping the shuttles are back in orbit really soon. The last I heard was April/May of 2005. How about the shuttles' replacements? The current shuttles have been around since the late 1970's and I'm wondering if there is a replacement in the works.

September 7th, 2004, 07:28	#2
SteveC Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: GRR Posts: 8,498	Re: Space Shuttle NASA - Return to Flight

September 7th, 2004, 07:51	#3
Mr_Creepy Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the O-zone Posts: 5,807	Re: Space Shuttle NASA needs a new website. I had to click through 3 or 4 topics to find the date - March 2005 - of the intended launch window.

September 7th, 2004, 08:04	#4
SteveC Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: GRR Posts: 8,498	Re: Space Shuttle I didn't have enough patience to dig that deep. I just found the website and then bailed out. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

September 7th, 2004, 13:26	#5
rv7 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 252	Re: Space Shuttle The news was reporting that the NASA Shuttle Assembly building received some damage from Hurricane Frances. They said that this would push the next launch date back. Don't quote me on all of this...it's just what the news reported and we all know how off they can be....especially with aviation. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

September 7th, 2004, 13:56	#6
flyover Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,389	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] NASA needs a new website. [ /quote] More importantly they need a new space vehicle. Shooting a glider up on the back of a rocket? Come on.

September 7th, 2004, 14:56	#7
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,687	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] More importantly they need a new space vehicle. Shooting a glider up on the back of a rocket? Come on. [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, but....we're going to Mars? Remember? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I agree with this. NASA's still living in the stone age as far as space delivery vehicles go. There's TONS of ideas on the drawing board (most of them MUCH more cost efficient), but there's no funding for the projects.

September 7th, 2004, 15:56	#8
ready2fly Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: DFW Posts: 7,143	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] More importantly they need a new space vehicle. Shooting a glider up on the back of a rocket? Come on. [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, but....we're going to Mars? Remember? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I agree with this. NASA's still living in the stone age as far as space delivery vehicles go. There's TONS of ideas on the drawing board (most of them MUCH more cost efficient), but there's no funding for the projects. [/ QUOTE ] Which is exactly why space exploration should be taken OUT of the hands of the federal govt.

September 7th, 2004, 16:37	#9
jonnyb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: So. California Posts: 1,304	Re: Space Shuttle I love Natalie Portman.

September 7th, 2004, 16:47	#10
ready2fly Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: DFW Posts: 7,143	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] I love Natalie Portman. [/ QUOTE ] Second!!

September 7th, 2004, 16:59	#11
TrinidadGT20 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Red Sox Nation Posts: 1,516	Re: Space Shuttle So what you're saying is I should take Natalie Portman on a trip to mars? Sounds good to me! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] The only problem with taking space travel out of the hands of the government is who the heck is going to pay for it?

September 7th, 2004, 19:39	#12
flyover Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,389	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] The only problem with taking space travel out of the hands of the government is who the heck is going to pay for it? [/ QUOTE ] Whoever has the money and wants to do it. What's the problem?

September 7th, 2004, 21:38	#13
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,687	Re: Space Shuttle Worked for the airlines. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Seriously, the X-prize has really lit a fire under private industry as far as space travel. None of these guys is going after the money offered by the prize. They'll spend three times that getting it. It's the ability to be first non-government in space. Hell, the Russians have already turned it into a rich man tourist business. Just ask Timberlake or whoever that ex-boy band guy was.

September 7th, 2004, 21:54	#14
rv7 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 252	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] Just ask Timberlake or whoever that ex-boy band guy was [/ QUOTE ] I thought that he never actually made it into space? Just did a lot of the training and then didn't pay for the rest or something like that?

September 7th, 2004, 21:56	#15
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,687	Re: Space Shuttle He might not have. I know he paid a lot of money to them or something like that. Either way, the demand is there for those that can afford it. Rich playboys are the ones that originally got the airlines started.

September 8th, 2004, 07:55	#16
flyover Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,389	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] He might not have. I know he paid a lot of money to them or something like that. Either way, the demand is there for those that can afford it. Rich playboys are the ones that originally got the airlines started. [/ QUOTE ] The driving force will be commercial interests. There are already people providing private lift for satellites. If someone sees a profit potential for putting men in space, they'll do it, no problem. The great crime is this. In the 1950s we well on the way to developing reusable space craft, flying into space instead of rocketing into space. All that momentum was lost when we decided to use our German rocket scientists to get into a rocket race with the Soviet's German rocket scientists. Of course the driving force behind that was ICBMs more than space exploration. Imagine what we would be flying now if we had turned our space program over to the likes of Kelly Johnson. It was a mistake that we need to fix now and not keep beating the same old tired "glider on a rocket" drum.

September 8th, 2004, 08:44	#17
Mr_Creepy Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the O-zone Posts: 5,807	Re: Space Shuttle So far no private sector is willing to explore space. It takes an awfully large amount of coin to get a pound of anything up in to orbit.

September 8th, 2004, 10:34	#18
Minnesota_Flyer Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul Posts: 1,896	Re: Space Shuttle It's all about the Space Elevator baby!! MF

September 8th, 2004, 10:44	#19
SteveC Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: GRR Posts: 8,498	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] It's all about the Space Elevator baby!! MF [/ QUOTE ] Yep. Here's some more background from a post a few months back.

September 8th, 2004, 11:22	#20
flyover Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,389	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] So far no private sector is willing to explore space. It takes an awfully large amount of coin to get a pound of anything up in to orbit. [/ QUOTE ] Which means that space "exploration" flunks the test for good investment of taxpayer dollars. Of course from my point of view almost everything the federal government does flunks that test.

September 8th, 2004, 11:33	#21
tonyw Old Skool Join Date: May 2002 Location: Maryland Posts: 15,466	Re: Space Shuttle [ QUOTE ] Which means that space "exploration" flunks the test for good investment of taxpayer dollars. Of course from my point of view almost everything the federal government does flunks that test. [/ QUOTE ] It's basic research, with no immediate opportunity for a return on investment. This is the kind of stuff that the government must fund, because the private sector isn't going to. Nor should they. It's not a good use of shareholder money to invest in research that has no real chance for a return on investment. But without a solid basic research program, we won't come up with the new discoveries that end up driving a lot of innovation and applied research. There's that "promote the general welfare" thing again. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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