NASA safety panel endorses Ares 1
Posted: Tue, Jan 19, 2010, 7:33 AM ET (1233 GMT)
An independent safety panel recommended to NASA that it retain the Ares 1 rocket under development and not extend the shuttle program. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) released its 2009 annual report late Friday, and many of its findings dealt with the current state and future of the agency's human spaceflight program. The panel warned that canceling the Ares 1 launch vehicle in favor of an unidentified alternative "is unwise and probably not cost-effective", and that commercial providers would be unable to close the gap in human spaceflight created by the shuttle's retirement. ASAP also found that no commercial operator meets human rating requirements, in part because NASA has defined standards for those companies to meet. The panel also noted it is "very concerned" about a potential extension of the shuttle, because of increased risks as the shuttle ages.
An independent safety panel recommended to NASA that it retain the Ares 1 rocket under development and not extend the shuttle program. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) released its 2009 annual report late Friday, and many of its findings dealt with the current state and future of the agency's human spaceflight program. The panel warned that canceling the Ares 1 launch vehicle in favor of an unidentified alternative "is unwise and probably not cost-effective", and that commercial providers would be unable to close the gap in human spaceflight created by the shuttle's retirement. ASAP also found that no commercial operator meets human rating requirements, in part because NASA has defined standards for those companies to meet. The panel also noted it is "very concerned" about a potential extension of the shuttle, because of increased risks as the shuttle ages.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, November 8
Moon RACER: Intuitive Machines takes lunar rover out for debut drive
collectSPACE — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) SpaceX's Dragon is about to do something to the ISS it's never done before [reboost the ISS]
SPACE.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) How comet Hale-Bopp can reveal the origins of life on Earth — and maybe beyond
SPACE.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) 'Beppo go home?' An astronaut monkey steals hearts in tear-jerking SNL skit
SPACE.com — 5:36 am ET (1036 GMT) Space stations are loud — that's why NASA is making a quiet fan
SPACE.com — 5:35 am ET (1035 GMT) |
