I don't think they'll be able to scrap the shuttle program just yet. There are still people on the space station, and they can't stay marooned up there. They'll either (hopefully) continue supporting the space station, or make one last flight to get the current crew off and mothball it. But it's too soon to really say what they're likely to do - not until we have a better idea what happened to Columbia.
I take that back. They HAVE to at least send ONE more shuttle up, if only to bring the astronauts back. After that... who knows? That depends on Congress. On one hand.. they may realize they need to quit cutting NASA's funding... because it's possible that NASA's lack of funding has made them have to launch cheaper.. launches... and this may be the result. On the other.. Congress may feel the benefit doesn't outweigh the risk and pull back even more funding.. or all of it. Only time will tell.
As far as I'm aware there's still a Russian Soyuz module on the ISS, so the crew can get down safely without any further launches from either country. Russia will probably continue its twice-yearly flights to replace the docked Soyuz module and do crew changes.
They are working on getting manned flights going, and I don't think there is a senator in office that would want to see them get into space and then far outpace the US and Russia with any program they put through since they have a lot of resources.
The space race between Russia and the US is over, but I see China as a third contender by the end of the decade, and that may help to get more funding to the program.
I'm not sure why this is supposed to concern us. I mean... China gets in space. What's bad here? The Space Race was an ego thing. An "our country is better than yours" thing not a "We're in space, so we're more secure than you" thing.
That is a good point, it was an ego thing and that's not what it is anymore. I guess I am just curious to see the reaction when China gets a working space program and starts trying to put up their own space station.
The space race was good for humanity. Helps a lot of people dream, even if it was done for the wrong reasons. I would be interested to see another space race, but this time one centered on colonization, not just getting there.
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(no subject)
Date: 2003-02-01 09:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-02-01 09:29 am (UTC)They HAVE to at least send ONE more shuttle up, if only to bring the astronauts back.
After that... who knows?
That depends on Congress.
On one hand.. they may realize they need to quit cutting NASA's funding... because it's possible that NASA's lack of funding has made them have to launch cheaper.. launches... and this may be the result.
On the other.. Congress may feel the benefit doesn't outweigh the risk and pull back even more funding.. or all of it.
Only time will tell.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-02-01 10:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-02-01 11:53 am (UTC)More reason why only time will tell what will happen.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-02-01 10:32 am (UTC)They are working on getting manned flights going, and I don't think there is a senator in office that would want to see them get into space and then far outpace the US and Russia with any program they put through since they have a lot of resources.
The space race between Russia and the US is over, but I see China as a third contender by the end of the decade, and that may help to get more funding to the program.
At least I can hope.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-02-01 11:52 am (UTC)I mean... China gets in space. What's bad here?
The Space Race was an ego thing. An "our country is better than yours" thing not a "We're in space, so we're more secure than you" thing.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-02-01 12:25 pm (UTC)The space race was good for humanity. Helps a lot of people dream, even if it was done for the wrong reasons. I would be interested to see another space race, but this time one centered on colonization, not just getting there.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-02-02 05:30 pm (UTC)Which is a load of shit.
Just watch... China getting into space will be a sign of more "terrorism", and Bush will win another term in office.
Which is, again, a load of shit.