NASA considers trimming shuttle schedule
Posted: Sat, Oct 30, 2004, 9:49 AM ET (1349 GMT)
NASA managers confirmed Friday that they are looking at ways to reduce the number of shuttle flights currently planned to complete the International Space Station. MSNBC first reported late Thursday that shuttle managers were looking at ways to cut the number of shuttle flights from the 28 currently on the manifest, perhaps reducing the number to 20. NASA officials confirmed that report during a return-to-flight press conference Friday, saying that such studies started about a month ago and have been driven primarily by budget concerns. A problem with cutting shuttle flights is that the modules built for the station and yet to be launched were designed to fly on the shuttle, which could necessitate significant alternations were they to be shifted to another launcher. Not launching the modules at all could also violate existing agreements among the station's international partners. At that press conference Friday NASA officials confirmed that they were planning the first post-Columbia shuttle launch, STS-114, for a launch window that opens in mid-May of 2005.
NASA managers confirmed Friday that they are looking at ways to reduce the number of shuttle flights currently planned to complete the International Space Station. MSNBC first reported late Thursday that shuttle managers were looking at ways to cut the number of shuttle flights from the 28 currently on the manifest, perhaps reducing the number to 20. NASA officials confirmed that report during a return-to-flight press conference Friday, saying that such studies started about a month ago and have been driven primarily by budget concerns. A problem with cutting shuttle flights is that the modules built for the station and yet to be launched were designed to fly on the shuttle, which could necessitate significant alternations were they to be shifted to another launcher. Not launching the modules at all could also violate existing agreements among the station's international partners. At that press conference Friday NASA officials confirmed that they were planning the first post-Columbia shuttle launch, STS-114, for a launch window that opens in mid-May of 2005.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, February 2
First launch of Ariane 6 with four boosters
ESA — 6:37 am ET (1137 GMT) Europe’s digital Earth gets ready to grow user community
ESA — 6:37 am ET (1137 GMT) Inside the high-stakes battle over Space Force advocacy
Washington Times — 6:34 am ET (1134 GMT) SpaceX rocket launch planned Monday morning at Vandenberg Space Force Base
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 6:32 am ET (1132 GMT) SpaceX Plans Data Center Satellite Constellation
Aviation Week — 6:30 am ET (1130 GMT) |
