Report: NASA should stabilize astronaut corps
Posted: Thu, Sep 8, 2011, 8:05 AM ET (1205 GMT)
NASA should take steps to ensure that it has a sufficient number of astronauts to support the International Space Station and future exploration missions, a report issued Wednesday concluded. The report, by the National Research Council, warned that the shrinking astronaut corps could pose problems given health and other uncertainties. The size of the astronaut corps has decreased by nearly 60 percent since 2000, from nearly 150 to 61, and the report warned that the model NASA uses to determine its minimum staffing requirements can't take into account all uncertainties, including requirements and medical disqualifications. The report doesn't recommend a specific number of astronauts, but does suggest NASA's projections of 55 astronauts by mid-decade may be too low.
NASA should take steps to ensure that it has a sufficient number of astronauts to support the International Space Station and future exploration missions, a report issued Wednesday concluded. The report, by the National Research Council, warned that the shrinking astronaut corps could pose problems given health and other uncertainties. The size of the astronaut corps has decreased by nearly 60 percent since 2000, from nearly 150 to 61, and the report warned that the model NASA uses to determine its minimum staffing requirements can't take into account all uncertainties, including requirements and medical disqualifications. The report doesn't recommend a specific number of astronauts, but does suggest NASA's projections of 55 astronauts by mid-decade may be too low.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, August 30
Starlink launches in UAE - but is it an alternative to the telecoms duopoly?
The National (UAE) — 5:34 am ET (0934 GMT) UAE grants Musk’s Starlink 10-year satellite internet licence
Siasat Daily (India) — 5:33 am ET (0933 GMT) Hickenlooper Questions Trump’s Space Academy Announcement
US Senate — 5:32 am ET (0932 GMT) SpaceX bets on Louisiana as America’s next frontier takes off in the South
Fox News — 5:30 am ET (0930 GMT) Hanwha Hosts Space Conference: "Korea Needs Its Own SpaceX"
Asia Business Daily — 5:29 am ET (0929 GMT) |
