NASA confirms major SLI changes coming
Posted: Sat, Nov 9, 2002, 9:55 AM ET (1455 GMT)
NASA announced Friday that it plans major changes to its Space Launch Initiative (SLI) program, scrapping plans to develop a second-generation reusable launch vehicle (RLV) in exchange for a space plane to be launched on an expendable vehicle. In a statement, NASA said it was planning to submit to Congress next week an updated Integrated Space Transportation Plan (ISTP) that will be implemented starting with the 2003 budget. The new ISTP will include space shuttle upgrades, research into next-generation launch technology, and an "Orbital Space Plane", a reusable crew transfer and return vehicle that would be launched on an expendable launcher to ferry crews to and from the station, and possible serve as a crew return vehicle for the station. the change marks a major, although not unexpected, break from NASA's original SLI plans, which called for selecting an RLV design by mid-decade that would then be built to eventually replace the shuttle. In the statement, NASA claimed that SLI's goal was "to identify feasible options for future NASA space transportation", a task that NASA believes it has now completed. NASA also said that it is considering increasing the space shuttle flight rate as well as looking at ways to expand the station beyond the "core complete" milestone.
NASA announced Friday that it plans major changes to its Space Launch Initiative (SLI) program, scrapping plans to develop a second-generation reusable launch vehicle (RLV) in exchange for a space plane to be launched on an expendable vehicle. In a statement, NASA said it was planning to submit to Congress next week an updated Integrated Space Transportation Plan (ISTP) that will be implemented starting with the 2003 budget. The new ISTP will include space shuttle upgrades, research into next-generation launch technology, and an "Orbital Space Plane", a reusable crew transfer and return vehicle that would be launched on an expendable launcher to ferry crews to and from the station, and possible serve as a crew return vehicle for the station. the change marks a major, although not unexpected, break from NASA's original SLI plans, which called for selecting an RLV design by mid-decade that would then be built to eventually replace the shuttle. In the statement, NASA claimed that SLI's goal was "to identify feasible options for future NASA space transportation", a task that NASA believes it has now completed. NASA also said that it is considering increasing the space shuttle flight rate as well as looking at ways to expand the station beyond the "core complete" milestone.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, April 20
Space ISAC Announces UK Global Hub During 40th Annual Space Symposium
Space ISAC — 11:22 am ET (1522 GMT) Outpost Awarded DAF Contract for the AFRL Rocket Cargo Vanguard Program to Advance Deployable Heat Shield Technology for Shipping Container Size Deliveries from Space
Business Wire — 11:18 am ET (1518 GMT) With NASA's Webb, Dying Star's Energetic Display Comes Into Full Focus
STScI — 11:16 am ET (1516 GMT) AIAA Statement on Blue Origin’s Successful NS-31 Mission
AIAA — 11:13 am ET (1513 GMT) Evidence of Dark Matter-Free Dwarf Galaxy Challenges Conventional Galaxy Formation Models
Keck Observatory — 11:13 am ET (1513 GMT) |
