With NASA announcing the retirement of the Atlantis shuttle by 2008, one wonders where our space program is going next. Sadly, we are down to three shuttles, and now Atlantis will be cannibalized for parts. Of course, Atlantis has been in use for more than 20 years, but I have not seen a lot of press on the replacements. The President spoke of traveling to Mars, and yet we cannot even maintain the rickety crafts that transports people and materiel to local satellites and the space station. Maybe we need to get the private companies into the act even sooner. This is not a new idea - read this USAToday editorial by Robert Zimmerman, an award-winning space historian.
Sunday, March 12
What 's Next with Atlantis on its Way Out?
With NASA announcing the retirement of the Atlantis shuttle by 2008, one wonders where our space program is going next. Sadly, we are down to three shuttles, and now Atlantis will be cannibalized for parts. Of course, Atlantis has been in use for more than 20 years, but I have not seen a lot of press on the replacements. The President spoke of traveling to Mars, and yet we cannot even maintain the rickety crafts that transports people and materiel to local satellites and the space station. Maybe we need to get the private companies into the act even sooner. This is not a new idea - read this USAToday editorial by Robert Zimmerman, an award-winning space historian.