NASA puts $28m price tag on retiring shuttles

I agree with everything MID has to say here (usual when I disagree with him it's because I still have so much to learn). Oh you.... However if you look at much of Von Braun's early work his original ideal was to move on to winged space vehicles, build a space station and then move outwards to the moon and planets. The reason things didn't happen that way is because of Apollo. Apollo was (sadly) motivated more by politics than the goal of science and exploration. I personally believe that had the USA produced winged vehicles and space stations first and then gone to the moon they may have got t... [More]

Oh you.... I completely agree with that Waspie. Von Braun was originally planning large clustered rockets (early designs looked like a V-2 shape, or a tapered conical form), which would feature a winged spacecraft atop it...rather that strapped to the side of a booster stack and fuel tank assembly (a much preferable design, both from an aeronautical and safety standpoint). The man was an idealist, and of course politics changed what he could do, but if he had his way...oh; ...things would be very different. Hi MID - You know, I would like to ask you a question about the future of NASA and spac... [More]

Well even though my truck is as old, the shuttles have more miles on them. Yea...a few tens of millions each. But the maintenance is pretty dear. My truck carries five passengers. How many does a shuttle carry? 6. In a pinch, 10. If they trade, I want it in as-is condition. I don't want them to disable it so I couldn't use it. Could I actually use it? Nope. But it would be cool just to sit on the flight deck! But, we need to set our sights higher on the moral highway.I say we all pitch in and buy it for MID. Could you picture it now, at the forum BBQ, MID comes rolling up in his RV converted S... [More]

Hi MID - You know, I would like to ask you a question about the future of NASA and space exploration. If you had your way as administrator, what kind of designs of our spacecrafts would you approve for this new century? We've known for some time that the shuttle fleet was going to be retired. What is on the horizon that can get the zip back into NASA? I'd like to see some real energy back in the program but it looks tired these days. Where is the vision? The leadership? Back in the 1970s, when I was a NASA kid (yes, I had Tang and all that) I saw all kinds of designs and promises made about ho... [More]

They're toxic waste, man. Since the Yomomma Nation has crippled the Constellation Program, some mom & pop helicopter tour tour company in Florida can buy them and staff them with Haitians, right? Nggggk. They never were worth more than 28 million. After flight and before refit, they're junk. Junk with bad aerodynamics. No Americans in Space Anymore. Better off building an X-24D yourself, if you want to fly. Von Braun's rockets and the Atlas were shaped like pencils for a reason: aerodynamics and weight reduction. The shuttle, based on a Eugen Sanger design, was aerodynamically and economic... [More]

HEre you Go Mid I just Finished it For you! Enjoy the Summer!

guess you didn't hear that the germans during world war 2 were designing their own space plane. I guess you either didn't read Kensei's post properly or else don't know who Eugen Sänger was.

I guess you either didn't read Kensei's post properly or else don't know who Eugen Sänger was. perhaps not but the man that put the usa into space was the lead rocket scientist in germany.

perhaps not but the man that put the usa into space was the lead rocket scientist in germany. Daniel, I suggest that you do a bit of research before making attacking comments on other members posts. Most of us in this thread are rather more aware of the history of spaceflight than you seem to be and we know who Werner Von Braun was. For your information Eugen Sänger WAS the designer of the German suborbital rocket bomber, showing that it was Kensei who knew what he was talking about and that you didn't.

Hi MID - You know, I would like to ask you a question about the future of NASA and space exploration. If you had your way as administrator, what kind of designs of our spacecrafts would you approve for this new century? Hi Eagle Eye! That's a good question you posed to me. I suppose I should preface all this by saying that an Administrator is beholden to the budget provided by Congress, and the wishes of the President (if Congress approves of those wishes). Thus, he generally does not have his way. He's an administrator. He decides how to use the money he's been given to accomplish the project... [More]