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NASA Space Flight Review Worries Workers

Thousands of jobs at stake when shuttle retires next year

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted May 7, 2009 10:44 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A NASA review of manned space-flight plans has Kennedy Space Center workers and contractors fearing for their jobs, the Orlando Sentinel reports. A panel will investigate whether rockets set to carry humans into space after the shuttle fleet is retired next year are really NASA’s best bets. Some worry the review could make the delay between shuttle and rockets longer than the expected 5 years.

The shuttle fleet’s retirement will mean 3,500 to 10,000 lost jobs. “The shuttle workforce has been looking for what few opportunities there will be” under the current project, “and even that’s now uncertain,” says a space expert expecting budget cuts. Worries one Kennedy blogger: “This is the beginning of the end of United States manned spaceflight.”

Atlantis, left, and Endeavour are shown on their launch pads at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., April 17, 2009.
Atlantis, left, and Endeavour are shown on their launch pads at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., April 17, 2009.   (AP Photo)
A Kennedy Space Center worker, right, watches as space shuttle Atlantis leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral, Fla., March 31, 2009.
A Kennedy Space Center worker, right, watches as space shuttle Atlantis leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral, Fla., March 31, 2009.   (AP Photo)
STS-119 Mission Specialist John Phillips, second from left, gestures during a post-landing news conference after the space shuttle Discovery landed safely, March 28, 2009 at the Kennedy Space Center.
STS-119 Mission Specialist John Phillips, second from left, gestures during a post-landing news conference after the space shuttle Discovery landed safely, March 28, 2009 at the Kennedy Space Center.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
riffran
May 7, 2009 7:30 AM CDT
laser, MRE's, biomedical monitors, hyperbarics, advanced medical adhesives, cat scan, MRI, (of course not just NASA, but a lot of military r/d spin offs also)......but I have yet to find a definative list, detailing all of the different tech's in one place
cornelison
May 7, 2009 6:32 AM CDT
People of all ages are interested in going to Mars. I know, I've spoken to them.
riffran
May 7, 2009 5:47 AM CDT
the days of the right stuff are long buried in a beurocratic nightmare of politico's attempting to run the show

No permanent boss at NASA ahead of shift
New York Times

Delays for moon landing
Guardian (UK)

What NASA needs in coming years
Orlando Sentinel

 
NASA • study • space • space shuttle • Kennedy Space Center • space flight • rockets • space program • Norman Augustine

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