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.
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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.