Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
Newser - Current News - Breaking Stories

« Back to the grid | Next story »

'08 NASA Missions Called Risky

Posted Jan 6, 08 11:32 CST in Technology,  US 

(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.
Source: Washington Post

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Endeavour Heads Home

    Nov 28, 08 2:30 PM CST
    The space shuttle Endeavour separated from the International Space Station today and headed back to earth. Having completed a 12-day mission that upgraded the station’s living quarters, Endeavour’s seven-person crew began the 2-day trip back to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida Today reports. "Thanks for the incredible makeover, and leaving the station in fantastic shape," station commander Mike Finke radioed to the Endeavour crew.
    More »

  • There's a New Space Race, and US Is Losing

    Jul 9, 08 2:19 PM CDT
    There's a New Space Race, and US Is Losing While the rest of the world cooperates incessantly on all matters extraterrestrial, the US, hampered by self-imposed regulations meant to keep weapons out of enemies' hands, is swiftly losing dominance of the final frontier, the Washington Post reports. The US’ military space program is still gargantuan, but the civil program, NASA included, suffers from “limited public interest in space activity.” More »

  • Discovery Returns to Earth

    Jun 14, 08 12:30 PM CDT
    Discovery Returns to Earth The space shuttle Discovery swooped back to Earth today after successfully expanding the International Space Station, the AP reports. The shuttle’s seven crew members delivered Kibo, the new billion-dollar Japanese science lab, and a pump to repair a broken toilet. Discovery also brought home flight engineer Garret Reisman, who’d talked of missing his wife, calling her “my favorite earthling.” More »

  • Discovery's New Fuel Tank Passes With Flying Colors

    Jun 2, 08 3:33 CDT
    Discovery's New Fuel Tank Passes With Flying Colors The Discovery shuttle launch Saturday marked the first use of a new fuel tank designed after flaws led to the 2003 Columbia disaster, Space.com reports, and tests yesterday showed the new design to be successful. The external tank, designed to minimize the release of falling debris  during launch, shed a few pieces of foam, but "performed in a magnificent fashion," said a NASA mission manager. More »

  • Discovery Launches, With Kibo Aboard

    May 31, 08 4:31 PM CDT
    Discovery Launches, With Kibo Aboard The space shuttle Discovery blasted into a clear blue sky today, carrying Kibo, a huge Japanese laboratory for the International Space Station. The $1 billion lab will be the station’s biggest room. “This is a real milestone,” said one NASA administrator. The Discovery is also bringing a replacement for the station’s broken toilet, rush-ordered from Moscow. More »

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
Our editors also recommend:

Related Threads

(1 of 1)

Tags

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


Loading...

Today's Most Popular

[ Stories ]

Threads

Loading...

Other US Stories