electrons's Blog

It is sad to think of it. The last space shuttle will launch will happen in 2 years. In 2010, shuttle Endeavour will be the last shuttle to fly to space for the last time for the United States.

In 1981, the first shuttle sent a message to the world how skilled our scientists and engineers are. As an engineer, I look up to NASA as a role model. They've done what no other nation has done, that is building, developing and utilizing the worlds only space "pickup truck". Engineers solve problems. NASA is my role model for the many problems they've solved. When smart people think together, great results are made. Sure, other countries have manned rockets, but when you look at the shuttle, it is the most complex vehicle man has ever made. So much has to go right, yet they make it look so easy. The shuttle is a backbone for the USA in regard to placing satellites, repair of satellites, spacewalks and the vehicle responsible for the construction of ISS (International Space Station). The shuttle is also our vehicle for our military and it's forces.

So what happens after 2010? The shuttle program will no longer be able to support itself and will be retired. In short, the USA will be unable to put man in orbit for 5 years until the Orion replacement vehicle is complete. Even at this point in 2015, we still cannot launch hardware as we've done. The "space pickup truck" is forever going to be gone.

NASA has stated time and time again that the schedule for shuttles cannot be extended. There are no parts! Mom and Pop shops who specialized in custom parts are closed up. Bringing these people out of retirement would be impossible. Planning stopped years ago. As Michael Griffin said "The horse left the barn 4 years ago".

Todays presidential candidates want to extend the shuttles. NASA says a huge risk would be placed on the flight crew, with a 1 in 12 chance of a disaster. Is the risk of losing a crew of 7 good enough? Another example of how a politician thinks they understand a problem, to demand a simple solution. Politicians need to sometimes step away and let our agencies work on their own.

The USA will be without it's dominance in space for 5 years from 2010 - 2015. Someone really messed up with scheduling with current world events. The Russians and Chinese can get to space with no problems, though using old hardware. What does this mean? We'll be without a way to space for 5 years. Congress is looking into purchasing Russian Soyuz rockets to fill the gap. That is not very American! Again, we solve our own problems.

You can bet that many people are behind closed doors discussing what to do. What do you think about our nation being not able to get to space for 5 years? Will we get rusty? Do we "try" an old 1970's era shuttle and risk another disaster and loss of lives? Is is a threat to national security?