Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

It is very unfortunate to see the fleet grounded again, but it is all in the interest of safety. I hope they can figure out the issue. Also does any one know whether or not this applies for Atlantis should it need to be launched for a rescue? If not and a rescue were needed, what would be the solution?

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

My best guess would be keeping the crew at ISS and asking for another favor from Russia, or another country planning a mission in the coming weeks/months.

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

wow its like everyone (china, america, russia) is rushing to get to space. its just like the olden days! :ahh:

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

What other countries have their own launch vehicles to get people?

Wetzel

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

Only one spacecraft could carry an entire shuttle crew back; that is, of course, another shuttle (crew capacity is up to ten, if so equipped). If Discovery needed rescue, another shuttle could be launched with a crew of two or three (with two being the minimum—unlike Buran, shuttles can't fly unmanned); I seriously doubt they would let a little thing like pieces of foam stand in the way of a rescue. By the way, the ISS is not equipped for long-duration occupancy by a shuttle crew—it would require several more shuttle flights to attach additional modules, and many more years (with the most optimistic scheduling) to even approach that sort of capacity.

As for other nations, China's in no condition to mount a rescue, given that they only have the Shenzhou (3 occupants, but only flown unmanned and with one aboard), and one manned spaceflight in total. Russia has only Soyuz (3 occupants), of which several would be needed—it is possible, though not especially likely that Russia has any spaceworthy Soyuz craft ready to launch. You'd need three flights between the Soyuz and the Shenzhou. (And please, nobody suggest any of the X-Prize entries....)

But of course, there are no reports of significant damage to the shuttle. Just the potential for trouble during the future launches.

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

Well, the US would have to do something. CNN said earlier that the grounding of the fleet could quite possibly mean Atlantis (or whatever the reasue craft is) would be grounded from taking off even if it needed to be used for a rescue. Meaning, I guess the crew would be stuck on ISS and in deperate needs of food/supplies until someone figured out a logical way to solve the problems at hand.

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

I really think if there was need for a rescue. They would research every possible option and if the only thing they could do is send up a rescue shuttle, I really think they would.

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

A few minutes ago, I saw an online article saying that Discovery is good to return, pending some laser examination of a slightly damaged area of the belly. Apparently ISS crew got pictures of areas thought to be damaged and they look fine.

In regards to a rescue mission being grounded, I doubt that will happen. The max crew size for that would be three, though I doubt that more than two would go. But, if they don't need rescue, Atlantis is grounded until further notice, same as all the others.

I'd be willing to say that NASA is looking at new designs for a shuttle, if they haven't started already.

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

Last I heard they were pretty serious with the X-33 / Venture Star but that was dropped a few years back... I'm sure they have plenty of ideas... but as far as I know, nothing is close to being built, tested, and flight-ready by the Shuttle Fleet's swiftly approaching "expiration date" in 2010.

After a little research... the CEV is the closest project... due for unmanned flight in 2014... which kind of puts a damper on finishing the ISS or going back to the Moon/humans on Mars like Bush wants to. [Especially if the Shuttles remain grounded.]

I heard NASA plans to speed up the CEV timeline... but that just doesn't sound like such a good idea to me... since when you rush... accidents usually happen... and we don't really want metric-english system conversion problem when people are involved. [for example the lost mars polar lander]

Crossing my fingers [and toes] for NASA though.

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Not sure how this additional bit on news will pan out... but apparently a 10th planet has been found.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3511678.stm

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Whoa yeah... sorry for sparking off some strong emotions here... I probably could have phrased some things differently. I apologize.

I was just using the Polar-Lander as an example of a mistake that in hindsight is kinda goofy when you think about it... like 80's hairstyles... [Although it would not have been goofy if humans had been onboard the lander]


I am TOTALLY pro-NASA... Complete space-geek since my parents took us down to KSFC to see Discovery roll out for the first flight after the Challenger was lost. And it's only grown with 2 trips to US Space Camp / MSFC, Meeting Alan Bean, Seeing the Enterprise Shuttle in DC, and watching / reading about all on NASA's work... from Mars Rovers and micro-gravity grown protein crystals to Memory Foam and Tang. [Mmmm Tang... now that brings back some fond memories of childhood]

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

I see this come up time and time again. I wish people would just let it go. Why is it we must focus on a few failures and forgett about the abundance of successes?

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

Yes they are only a few failures. But they are billions of dollars in failures. And a space shuttle failure can cost human lives. Often with taxpayer money. And yes, the successes are always more often, which is excellent :)

(Sorry to be the pessimist)

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

I found the recent article on k5h dealing with roughly the same topic to be interesting The methods and bias of the media. That said, honestly I find it disappointing too when NASA doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

looks like we have a return date! STS-114 is currently scheduled to come on down back to earth at approximently 4:46am EDT on Monday, August 8th to Kennedy Space Center. Deorbit is scheduled to start around 3:43 am.

And if that doesn't work they got a whole list of back up times
1.) 8/8-Kennedy Space Center at 6:21 am deorbit would start at 5:19am
2.) 8/8-Edwards Air Force Base (California) at 7:52 am
3.) 8/8-Edwards Air Force Base at 9:27 am
4.) 8/9-Kennedy Space Center at 5:09 am
5.) 8/9-Kennedy Space Center at 6:45 am
6-7.) 8/10 at Edwards Air Force Base

so it looks like NASA's hunk of engineering is coming back to earth.

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

i'm soo glad everything is looking good for the crew....

thanks conor for sharing the info about times of return..

Re: NASA's Return to Flight Mission July 13!
 

I think you mean this coming Monday, August the 15th.