Astronauts uncover long line of nicks on shuttle

Google News (AP) ^ | 5/12/2009 | n/a

[NormsRevenge]

I’d love to see a surface to orbit vehicle utilizing a different launch method that didn’t take so much work prepping and such. The problem will be one of payload.

RamJets, ScramJets come to mind.

with budgets limited as they have been for years tho, I don’t see a lot of change on the horizon.

[DoughtyOne]

If you want my opinion, I don’t think a craft closing in on thirty years of age, is a solid bet. I know the B52 flies in the face of that, but it isn’t subjected to the temperatures and stresses the shuttle is.

I don’t believe the shuttle was designed to go past the thirty year mark. Are the airframes shot? Perhaps not. I’m certainly no expert on it. The current situation does not instill confidence in the system. That’s for sure.

NormsRevenge just offered up an opinion that more closely backs your view than mine.

I don’t disagree that the space program’s main problem is politicians.

[Cementjungle]

Traffic congestion. They scratch you and never stop or leave a note.

Probably that baggage cart that eventually got sucked into the 747's engine over at LAX yesterday. Those things are worse than geese.

[Moonman62]

The real problem is there is not a purpose for even a single mission. The ISS is a money pit that should be splashed in the Pacific, and it would be cheaper to launch a whole new Hubble on an unmanned rocket, rather than send a Shuttle to repair it.

The only current purpose for numerous space missions would be tourism. Still, Shuttle missions are prestigious and they maintain our superior launching capability.

[DoughtyOne]

I’d love to see a surface to orbit vehicle utilizing a different launch method that didn’t take so much work prepping and such. The problem will be one of payload.

RamJets, ScramJets come to mind.

I'm a big supporter of the SSTO concept.  When I mention this, I generally get considerable criticism as if I were supporting the existence of UFOs or something.

My perception is that we benefit the most, when we push the limits the most.  Would SSTO be an insurmountable task?  I'm not convinced of that at all.  I'm certainly in no position to state that it is definately attainable though.

Whatever the concept that we finalize on, whether it involved drop craft or an SSTO, our nation is advanced the most by making this happen.

I personally believe our global standing is as contingent upon our success at this right now, as it is on the viability of the current armed services.

This is something we need to make happen.  And now is the time.  The next decade will see challenges in space.  Are we going to be able to meet those challenges, or are we going to opt to be a has-been nation?

with budgets limited as they have been for years tho, I don’t see a lot of change on the horizon.

We will always have money to spend on things we want to spend money on.  When we consider the overall cost of the space program over the last 50 years, it amounts to a very paultry sum.

[stefanbatory]

maybe they can get him to take his college roomate with him...

[DoughtyOne]

The real problem is there is not a purpose for even a single mission.

If you're talking about the incredible cost of lift these days, I would have to say you're not that far off with that comment.

Still, I do believe the status of our nation will be more closely tied to our ability to enter and inhabit space, than anyone realizes.

We need to cut the cost of delivering materials to space.  We need to make access a common occurance.

Just like opening up the West, the United States needs to open up and inhabit space.  Right now it won't make that much sense.

When we're able to enter space frequently, people will be amazed at how quickly space becomes a thriving industry.

The ISS is a money pit that should be splashed in the Pacific, and it would be cheaper to launch a whole new Hubble on an unmanned rocket, rather than send a Shuttle to repair it.

Did you know that the discovery that led to Pluto being downgraded from a planet, was facilitated using a ground based telescope?  I've also seen some ground based photos that came close to the photos taken by the Hubble.  Yes, the Hubble probably does a bit better for some things, but I'm not convinced it's the big deal we've been led to believe it is.  I've been a supporter of the Hubble all along, but I have found myself questioning it's true value from time to time.

The only current purpose for numerous space missions would be tourism.

The single most impactful thing that will limit what value access to space will present to us, is the creativity of the people who are tasked with devising cutting edge short and long term goals or projects.

If we can have hotels up there, why not condos?  If we're doing some research up there, why not support facilities?  Why not cutting edge agriculture, crops, animal life, and water recycling?

IMO, there will be a need for zero gravity facilities, and facilities that have artificial gravity as well.  People could work three days on, four days off, to avoid the ill effects of zero gravity.

A facility devised to provide artificual gravity by rotation, could have a core where near zero gravity would allow for transport craft to shuttle people to and from a zero gravity work facility.

I really do think we're on the verge of a new age here.  If we aren't the masters of this, we will wind up being the underlings of those who are.

Still, Shuttle missions are prestigious and they maintain our superior launching capability.

I believe the shuttle is becoming more of an albatros than a shining example of our future.  It's time to move on to the next best thing.

Further, I would state that the near term goals need to focus on the type of reality I am addressing here.

This must be the next stop, and the equipment we devise must be suited to making this a reality.  Wasting money on anything that doesn't will just slow us down.

[BlueStateBlues]

Not bad at all. Next is the exciting launch of the Herschel and the Planck Space Observatories on Thursday.

[DoughtyOne]

I forgot to address the space station. If anyone wants me to support something in space, it better have the name of the United States Department of Space on the side of it, or they can dump it in the Pacific. No argument there! International my arse...

As for private industry, their additions should be labeled according to who owns the thing. No problem there.

[garbanzo]

You have to be SB if you’re a NASA manager now. You actually have to make a critical decision. If you do nothing and something bad happens on re-entry, you’re toast. If you do something you abandon an orbiter perhaps unnecessarily and essentially bring the space shuttle program to an early end.

[LayoutGuru2]

Not sure if this is a current picture or a file photo. Click to see full-size.

[webschooner]

“debris coming off the fuel tanks” is due to NASA using the worthless Sierra Club approved insulation on the outside, instead of the old allegedly environmentally-unfriendly insulation they used to use, that worked and stayed put.

[NormsRevenge]

The next decade will see challenges in space. Are we going to be able to meet those challenges, or are we going to opt to be a has-been nation?

—

Joe Biden is ready to meet those challenges.. he can launch in any position.. (ducks)

The Return on Investment used to far outweigh the cost of the space program. It needs to get its focus back... and adequate funding to do so. Some Leadership wouldn’t hurt either.

We may be grounded space-wise before we know it.. and left asking, Wha’ Happin’?

[edcoil]

I was thinking in the general discussion group, Ms.Fox has announced she is bisexual - does duct tape fix that or... do we want it to.

[Perdogg]

The space shuttle: Designed by the government, built by the lowest bidder. ;)

[DoughtyOne]

There’s some truth in that. I believe the last shuttle lost would have been clearly judged to be at jeopardy if they had bothered to check it out as they should have.

If you’ll note though, that team wasn’t summarily fired to my knowledge. They’ve still got jobs, unless they were quietly let go over the last few years.

[DoughtyOne]

I wouldn’t argue with you. I don’t like what I am seeing.

[AntiKev]

For a guy whose nickname is Moonman62, you certainly don’t have a clue.

[hattend]

Al Gore’s fault.