Return To Flight
According to numerous reports today, a NASA official has said that the Shuttles could return to flight within a year, and possibly within a year of the Feb. 1 loss of Columbia. What is not stated implicitly, but certainly appears to be the subtext, is that this is backing away from earlier discussions of a return to flight this fall. What can I say? As a NASA contractor, I fully support the agency's decision. And, personally, if that's what it takes to reach the appropriate level of safety for the Shuttle program, then, of course, that's what needs to be done. The one interesting item in the articles, is that the official, Michael Kostelnik, who heads the shuttle and space station programs, noted that while ISS will be OK as far as food, water, and spare parts into the fall, supplies will get low in November and December. If it were determined that ISS would have to be de-manned without return to flight this year, I wonder if that would affect the decision-making process. Also, and this is just pure speculation on my part, when they were talking about return to flight in the fall, I was guessing that would mean a likely ISS crew rotation at that time, with Atlantis bringing down the two-man Expedition 7 crew, which will have been there for a good 6-month stay at the end of October, and taking up a three-man Expedition 8 crew, restroring a "full" crew complement to the Station. Delaying until next year will mean crew rotation will have to be performed with the Russian Soyuz TMA-3 capsule, which would have to fly to the Station in the Oct.-Dec. time frame anyway to replace the TMA-2 that launches Saturday, and that, particularly given the supply situation, Expedition 8 will likely be a two-man crew as well, meaning that only minimal science will be supported for a full year of ISS operation. On an interesting side note, it will mean that Expeditions 7 and 8 will both consist of two-person crews who, unlike previous expedition crews who received occassional visits from Shuttle and Soyuz crews, will spend their entire time on ISS alone. More, as always, as it develops.

:: :: 09:50 :: David :: [permalink] ::