[Valin]

This very likely marks the end of the Shuttle program and certainly will ground US manned space for the next several years. Spacestation construction is done, and without yet another expensive redesign, likely signals the end of further work on that program as well.


I hope you are wrong.

[Magnum44]

I hope you are wrong.

I wish I believed differently, but I am too pragmatic. It will take a national will like the space program has not seen since the Apollo days to overcome this. With national priorities so focused on war, and rightly so, at the moment, I fear that NASA manned space will take back seat for the near future.

It is an opportunity to reinvigorate the aerospace industry in this country. But the question is really a political one, do we have the political will to spend the enormous capital it will take to revive the program.

[Magnum44]

A follow up to my previous response - The Air Force has been argueing for it's own manned space plane for many years. Duplication of resources and inter-agency resource fighting has not allowed that to go forward. That equation just changed.

I think the next manned space vehicle has a high likelihood of being military. Justifiably or not, NASA may no longer be entrusted with the manned space role.

Of course, these are just thoughts right now. Its too early to know what will happen, and as I stated earlier, I am stunned at the loss of a former classmate and friend, feel for the families of all, and feel a great sadness inside myself as the Shuttle program was a great inspiration for me in my own career.