On 05/16/2010 08:50 AM, RodSmallwood wrote:
So what is going to replace the Shuttle and when?
Originally the plan was to replace it with two systems:
* crew launched in an Orion capsule on an Ares I
* cargo (heavy lift) launched on an Ares V
Obama and the NASA administrator want to cancel Ares I, but Congress
might block that.
Ares I is an incredibly stupid design, but if we cancel it we will have
no capability of launching manned missions at all. The NASA plan is to
contract that out to private industry, and I'm generally in favor of
that, but we shouldn't kill NASA's in-house manned launch capability
until the private alternative has been successfully tested.
Eric