The Space Shuttle will be retired in 2010. In 2015, NASA will launch the Orion spacecraft to the ISS on an Ares I rocket. We'll also build an Ares V rocket to take the Orion to the Moon.

Hi Kyle,

 Here are some pictures of Chinas fantastic new ship that carried their astronauts into space recently. The pictures included with the previous post, unfortunately, are just computer generated images of the ships NASA hopes to build. NASA should study the design, technology and building techniques used by the Chinese in making theirs because there is no doubt they used things they learned by studing the Space Shuttle and Russian Soyuz craft. And on top of it all, it didn't break the bank!

-Mr. Jackson

The future NASA Orion spacecraft (first pic) won't need much developing because the program is really backtracking to Apollo era-technology. Also, I've never heard of other projected designs for NASA; all the single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) projects have been shelved, and the Constellation program (The Orion module and the Ares rocket) seems to be underway.

I hate to be the pessimist, but what are the chances of the Ares program running on schedule?  2015?  I bet 2017.  Despite what NASA says, I also bet that the delay in the Hubble servicing mission will delay the launch pad 39B modifications needed for the Ares 1-X flight test.  I think the U.S. is forced to keep the aging Shuttle operational for a few more years.  I really don't like the idea of having to depend on the Russians between the Shuttle retirement and Ares debut.

  Amen.

  I find it hilarious, after supressing the fact that over 60,000 soldiers gave their lives to fight communism, that we are now going to be beholden to both China and Russia.

  That's funny, in a sort of sick way.  Something clearly is amiss...

bogenj:

I hate to be the pessimist, but what are the chances of the Ares program running on schedule?  2015?  I bet 2017.

Bogenji has a point. NASA might get even less funding nowadays, which makes me scared that the project will be even further delayed. You have a point.

NASA is also trying to get budding commercial space companies to let NASA use their spacecraft to reach the ISS. I don't think that will work very well though. In the end we will be dependent on the Russians.

I think that NASA is facing its darkest years since the Challenger/Columbia disasters, or even since  the 1950s.

  Well, at least NASA won't be alone as far as government agencies in trouble...

Kyle:

The Space Shuttle will be retired in 2010. In 2015, NASA will launch the Orion spacecraft to the ISS on an Ares I rocket. We'll also build an Ares V rocket to take the Orion to the Moon.

 

I saw the podcast on this at NASA.com. Its going to do great

Some points you may not have considered:

1.  With all due respect to the Chinese, why would we want to copy them?    My reading indicates the Chinese copied the Soyuz.   I'm sure they made changes, upgrades, etc, but the basic design is Soyuz........designed in the 1960's like Apollo.  The Apollo was a Ferrari, the Soyuz was pretty crude by comparison.  The Chinese craft: capable of doing it's job, yes.  Fantastic?  That may be a bit of a stretch.

Let's not get carried away......the Chinese are where we were in the mid-60's.  They can devote just about any amount they want (as a percentage of their GNP) to their program.  They have top people and top technology, but at this point, they are going where we have already been....45 years ago.

2.  We have no idea how much money the Chinese have spent on their manned space program!!  

3.  I agree with some others that retiring the shuttle 5 years (or more) before we have an alternative is troubling.  Begging/buying rides from the Russians and Chinese is not a good place to be.  

4.  Never understood why the shuttle needed to risk 7 astronauts per flight.  Was that really necessary?

5. The shuttle itself has not been the problem.   The delivery system has been the problem.  Both accidents were caused by booster/fuel tank issues (and poor decision making).   Hard to understand why they can't design a fuel tank that doesn't shed material during launch.

Hi Kyle,
I understand the Space Shuttle will be retired in 2010. Is there any brand new space shuttle designs exactly like now (can bring people go and back) ?

Greetings all, I hope everyone is doing well and has had at least a few clear and beatiful nights of viewing over the past few months. The weather in Chicago has been bizarre to say the least. :-)

I think everyone has touched on good points. We as Americans have to come to realize that it's a whole new ballgame when it comes to space missions in general. I've always believed in sticking with what works and making improvements along the way. China is the new "Superpower on the block" and is in the position America was in during the Space Race with the USSR back in the day, in terms of available resources and money to invest in staking their claim in outer space. Sure, the technology they've developed around goes back to that time, but they've also streamlined building techniques NASA uses for the Space Shuttle. And why not use the Soyuz craft as a foundation to build their craft. It has proven reliable time and time again and doesn't break the bank with each launch like the Shuttle does and is still in use today.

As mentioned before by other members, soon, and unfortunately, our astronauts will be hitching a ride with the Soviets or Chinese after the Shuttle is retired. I see nothing wrong with buying a craft using proven technology from China or Russia and mixing it with some creative American ingenuity so we can still be a major player in manned space missions NOW instead of much later.

We need to look at the big picture. Today, cheap and amazing technology is readily available everywhere. With that in mind, there is little doubt imho that over the next few years astronauts from other countries will be waving their flags in space and use creative thinking and experiment with or impliment new and fresh ideas that NASAs brainiacs failed to think of! An interesting example of just that are the clever probes JAXA and the ESA have launched over the past few years. Check out their websites to see for yourself.

What a shock to our national pride if we get to that point...from being leader to watching from the sidelines unless we have a ride.

-Mr. Jackson