[Axenolith]

Following the precedent of the Challenger disaster in 1996, it's unlikely that NASA will undertake any further shuttle missions or any other manned space flights for the next two years. One immediate problem, though, is the International Space Station, which currently has a crew of three on board. They might consider one further flight to bring that crew home — the other option would be for them to return aboard a Russian Soyuz craft, which isn't the most comfortable or the safest ride. Beyond that, however, the space station is likely to be left unoccupied for a long time. NASA won't want to use the shuttle again until it can establish the cause of today's accident, and fix it. Now that we've lost two shuttles out of a fleet of five, it's even conceivable that the shuttle won't fly again.

Only if pansies are running the show! Not only do we need to get back there post haste, we need to build a couple more shuttles...

[RadioAstronomer]

Beyond that, however, the space station is likely to be left unoccupied for a long time.

I don't believe that will be the case. The Russians will continue to fly to the space station.

[RadioAstronomer]

Only if pansies are running the show! Not only do we need to get back there post haste, we need to build a couple more shuttles...

I am not sure the tooling still exists.

I had friends working on the next generation until it got canceled.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Not only do we need to get back there post haste, we need to build a couple more shuttles...

The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.

In the skies today we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see there is comfort and hope. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." - President George W. Bush, Remarks by the President on the Loss of Space Shuttle Columbia