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COLUMBIA - International Space Station future in doubt
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(CNN) -- The Columbia disaster not only has grounded the shuttle program but also has left the fate of the international space station in doubt.
With shuttle operations suspended, Russia's space agency can still bring astronauts to and from the space station. However, budget problems have made it difficult for Russia to launch spacecraft regularly.
So, some observers say, the shuttle incident could put the continued, manned operation of the space station in jeopardy.
With no permanent crew aboard, the space station could operate in "dormant'' mode as long as visiting astronauts perform occasional maintenance. In fact, NASA had been considering a "demanning'' contingency for 2003 before the Columbia's breakup.
CNN COLUMBIA DISASTER
There is also some speculation as to how they are going to remove the current IST crew, if the shuttles are grounded. I have heard that they may have to use one of the escape pods. However it is still early days.
With shuttle operations suspended, Russia's space agency can still bring astronauts to and from the space station. However, budget problems have made it difficult for Russia to launch spacecraft regularly.
So, some observers say, the shuttle incident could put the continued, manned operation of the space station in jeopardy.
With no permanent crew aboard, the space station could operate in "dormant'' mode as long as visiting astronauts perform occasional maintenance. In fact, NASA had been considering a "demanning'' contingency for 2003 before the Columbia's breakup.
CNN COLUMBIA DISASTER
There is also some speculation as to how they are going to remove the current IST crew, if the shuttles are grounded. I have heard that they may have to use one of the escape pods. However it is still early days.
This would be a good reason to discontinue the rocket propulted shuttle. NASA can blaim it on this disaster but the truth might be that
they don't need to use the rocket powered shuttle anymore. Instead they use anti-gravity propulsion or nuclear propulsion similiar to what Bob Lazar
describes as the "sport model". One of the NASA spokespersons said it himself yesterday. "NASA has not built a shuttle since 1992. It is time to
make way for the next generation of space travel." Those are not exact words but that is what he said
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