Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

'08 NASA Missions Called Risky

Space agency pushing up against 2010 deadline

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser User

Posted Jan 6, 2008 11:32 AM CST

(Newser) – NASA is speeding up its space shuttle flight schedule to meet the 2010 deadline for the completion of the International Space Station. This year alone, the space agency will launch six missions—twice the number of the last two years—and some experts worry that the crunch is a recipe for a Columbia-like disaster. "Something has to give," one told the Washington Post.

Atlantis is already behind schedule due to electrical malfunctions. NASA implemented a litany of new safety procedures in the wake of the Columbia fiasco in 2003, but the 27-year-old shuttle fleet—set to retire in 2010—remain unpredictable, highly complex spacecraft. "Every time we launch a shuttle, we risk the future of the human space flight program," said one analyst.

Space shuttle Atlantis sits on Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008, prior to a media teleconference in Houston to discuss the status of ongoing work to... (Associated Press)

In this image from NASA Television on the International Space Station, Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson is seen during a space walk, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA TV) (Associated Press)

A NASA worker waits to get onto Pad 39A to continue work on space shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Thursday Dec. 6, 2007. NASA managers canceled the launch today after detecting two... (Associated Press)

In this photo released by NASA, Space Shuttle Atlantis sits on launch pad 39a after the rotating service structure was retracted at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, June 7,... (Associated Press)

Space shuttle Atlantis sits on Pad 39A as sunset after the launch was scrubbed due to faulty liquid hydrogen sensors at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007. If NASA... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

'Godspeed:' Atlantis Leaves ISS a Final Time

Shuttle takes unprecedented photos of space station on last return trip

(AP) - Atlantis left the International Space Station for the very last time today, heading home to end the 30-year run of a vessel that kept Americans flying to and from orbit longer than any other rocketship. The space shuttle slipped away after performing a partial lap around the space station. Ten pairs of eyes pressed against the windows, four in the shuttle and six in the station. "Godspeed," a space station astronaut called out. Atlantis is due to land in Florida in Thursday's pre-dawn hours. More»

Atlantis Docks a Final Time

Last shuttle mission cruising along smoothly

(NEWSER) - Atlantis has docked with the International Space Station, yet another final milestone as NASA winds down its storied shuttle program with what the AP is perhaps excessively referring to as "a flight full of passion." "Atlantis arriving," called space station astronaut Ronald Garan Jr. as the station's naval bell chimed. "Welcome to the International Space Station for the last time." The docking, the 46th of the shuttle program, went off without a hitch. Atlantis brings some four tons of food and provisions—enough to sustain the outpost for a year. More»

Space Shuttle Heads for Earth

Atlantis returns as March 11 flight rolls onto launch pad

(NEWSER) - The space shuttle Atlantis parted ways with the International Space Station this morning and headed back towards the confines of Earth, even as NASA was rolling another shuttle onto the launch pad, preparing for its March 11th mission. In its 9-day stay, Atlantis attached Europe’s first permanent laboratory to the space station; the next flight will add the beginning of a Japanese research module, Reuters reports. More»

Meet NASA's Last Shuttle Crew

Four astronauts close out program with Atlantis' final flight

(NEWSER) - They are the envy of America's space program: Christopher Ferguson, Douglas Hurley, Rex Walheim, and Sandra Magnus will zip into space on Friday aboard NASA's 135th and final shuttle mission. The smallest crew since 1983 amounts to an afterthought: They were initially groomed as a rescue mission in case of trouble with Endeavour's final flight, reports the AP. NASA decided to go ahead with the mission and stock the space station for a year, but the astronauts run the risk of being stranded in space—in the event of damage to Atlantis there are no more shuttles to rescue them, and getting home via Soyuz could take up to a year. More»

Endeavour Wraps Final Mission

Mark Kelly and crew will undock tonight, return home

(NEWSER) - It's all over for Endeavour but the undocking: The shuttle's crew floated out the door this morning and closed the hatch behind them, having completed Endeavour's final mission. "We're looking forward to getting home," said commander Mark Kelly, "and we're going to leave these guys to some peace and quiet and not disturb their space station anymore." The crew will get some sleep before undocking late tonight and starting the two-day trip home, reports the AP. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

'08 NASA Missions Called Risky

Space agency pushing up against 2010 deadline

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

NASA • space • space shuttle • International Space Station • Atlantis Space Shuttle • Columbia disaster • shuttle fleet

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

'Godspeed:' Atlantis Leaves ISS a Final Time

Shuttle takes unprecedented photos of space station on last return trip

Atlantis Docks a Final Time

Last shuttle mission cruising along smoothly

Space Shuttle Heads for Earth

Atlantis returns as March 11 flight rolls onto launch pad

Meet NASA's Last Shuttle Crew

Four astronauts close out program with Atlantis' final flight

Endeavour Wraps Final Mission

Mark Kelly and crew will undock tonight, return home

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

'08 NASA Missions Called Risky

Space agency pushing up against 2010 deadline

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

NASA • space • space shuttle • International Space Station • Atlantis Space Shuttle • Columbia disaster • shuttle fleet

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

'Godspeed:' Atlantis Leaves ISS a Final Time

Shuttle takes unprecedented photos of space station on last return trip

Atlantis Docks a Final Time

Last shuttle mission cruising along smoothly

Space Shuttle Heads for Earth

Atlantis returns as March 11 flight rolls onto launch pad

Meet NASA's Last Shuttle Crew

Four astronauts close out program with Atlantis' final flight

Endeavour Wraps Final Mission

Mark Kelly and crew will undock tonight, return home

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?