Space Shuttle
What to do about the Space Shuttle
Our Space Shuttle fleet is aging. No one doubts
that. They are built with 1980's technology. No one doubts that if we built a
new one that we could do better. But should we? Should we completely redesign
the shuttle fleet and scrap the old ones? Should we try and save money and use
these last 3 Shuttles and not replace them for 20 more years. Historically it
should only cost us 7 more people. It would be cheaper... now
anyway.
No the right answer is to
either aggressively build an brand new fleet of shuttles or scrap our existing
fleet in lieu of reusable rockets. The middle way to keep using our existing
fleet would mean that we will have another
disaster.
Will we do it? No I don't
think we will do either of the two proper choices because there is nothing in it
for the politicians. They need results that show up within 4 years or they
don't get re-elected. So the cheaper way is the one the politicians will
choose.
What I want to see is for us to
not only build a new shuttle fleet but to create the first reusable inter
planetary vehicle and take it to Mars. I want it reusable because when it gets
back from Mars I want to refit it and send it to the asteroids. If we want to
explore space we had better find a way to make money directly off of it. Once
big business gets if first profits then look out the human race will colonize
the entire solar system looking for money. But for that to happen we have to
get people out and explore the wilderness. They need to find the resources that
business will follow along and
exploit.
So I say let's get started
now!
Posted: Fri - November 14, 2003 at 11:43 PM