GAO on Shuttle upgrades

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04203.pdf

Eek.

Allen Thomson wrote:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04203.pdf

Eek.


Eh? about what part? The first sentence pretty much showed
where these were going..

Allen Thomson wrote:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04203.pdf

Eek.

This report was prepared in advance of the President's plan to retire
the Shuttle in 2010. It's moot if that plan is embraced by the nation.

The current trend of the Congress and the Executive branch seems to be
leaning towards replacing the Shuttle sooner rather than later.

--
bp
Proud Member of the Human O-Ring Society Since 2003

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 17:37:11 -0700, Charles Buckley
wrote:

Allen Thomson wrote:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04203.pdf

Eek.


Eh? about what part? The first sentence pretty much showed
where these were going..

Maybe that the photo of Columbia on STS-1 or STS-2 (white ET) is
captioned "Atlantis liftoff".

Brian

"Brian Thorn" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 17:37:11 -0700, Charles Buckley
wrote:

Allen Thomson wrote:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04203.pdf

Eek.


Eh? about what part? The first sentence pretty much showed
where these were going..

Maybe that the photo of Columbia on STS-1 or STS-2 (white ET) is
captioned "Atlantis liftoff".

I don't think that ET is white. It's definitely darker than the SRBs next
to it.

Brian

"Greg D. Moore \(Strider\)" wrote in
:


"Brian Thorn" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 17:37:11 -0700, Charles Buckley
wrote:

Allen Thomson wrote:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04203.pdf

Eek.


Eh? about what part? The first sentence pretty much showed
where these were going..

Maybe that the photo of Columbia on STS-1 or STS-2 (white ET) is
captioned "Atlantis liftoff".

I don't think that ET is white. It's definitely darker than the SRBs
next to it.

Whatever color that ET is, the orbiter is definitely Columbia. It's got the
black wing chines and the "USA" by itself on the starboard wing.


--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.

Bruce Palmer wrote in message et...
Allen Thomson wrote:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04203.pdf

Eek.

This report was prepared in advance of the President's plan to retire
the Shuttle in 2010. It's moot if that plan is embraced by the nation.

The current trend of the Congress and the Executive branch seems to be
leaning towards replacing the Shuttle sooner rather than later.

I see.
When I read:
"The Columbia tragedy has accentuated the need to modernize the
20-year-old space shuttle, the only U.S. launch system that carries
people to and from space. The shuttle will now be needed for another
two decades. As it ages, the spacecraft's components will also age,
and it may become increasingly unreliable. "

I thought Eh?
If the Orbiter is phased out in 2010 or soon there after, you are
right
this document is moot.

Al Jackson wrote:

Bruce Palmer wrote in message et...

Allen Thomson wrote:


http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04203.pdf

Eek.

This report was prepared in advance of the President's plan to retire
the Shuttle in 2010. It's moot if that plan is embraced by the nation.

The current trend of the Congress and the Executive branch seems to be
leaning towards replacing the Shuttle sooner rather than later.


I see.
When I read:
"The Columbia tragedy has accentuated the need to modernize the
20-year-old space shuttle, the only U.S. launch system that carries
people to and from space. The shuttle will now be needed for another
two decades. As it ages, the spacecraft's components will also age,
and it may become increasingly unreliable. "

I thought Eh?
If the Orbiter is phased out in 2010 or soon there after, you are
right
this document is moot.


Completely moot.


Of course, we are looking at another gap with no manned US
access to space.. such is life..

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 03:46:32 GMT, "Greg D. Moore \(Strider\)"
wrote:


http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04203.pdf

Maybe that the photo of Columbia on STS-1 or STS-2 (white ET) is
captioned "Atlantis liftoff".

I don't think that ET is white. It's definitely darker than the SRBs next
to it.

Look again, that's definitely a white ET.

Here's the original picture...

http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/luceneweb/fullimage.jsp?selections=STS1&browsepage=Go&keywor ds=null&pageno=10&photoId=S81-30499&captionpage=true

http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/index.html
It's on Page 10 if you search STS-1.

Brian

Charles Buckley wrote:
Al Jackson wrote:
...
Of course, we are looking at another gap with no manned US
access to space.. such is life..

I was thinking that as well. Several rounds of contractor studies
(although there are fewer builders than there were in the early '70s),
NASA studies, OMB reports, GAO reports, election year realpolitik,
mission requirements, yet more studies, budget squabbles, cost analyses,
SSTO vs. staged boosters, the NERVA debate all over again, HQ vs. the
Centers, JSC vs. MSFC, Merritt Island vs. a new launch complex somewhere
else, etc., etc., etc. Not to mention the prospect of privatizing the
whole shebang from day 1. All taking perhaps 3 or 4 years to finalize
and culminating in a 5-7 year development program.

--
bp
Proud Member of the Human O-Ring Society Since 2003