Space Shuttle Jitters
August 6th 2007 09:31
The national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) gained media attention in the early 60s with the then mercury program.
NASA’s image has certainly taken a beating over the last few weeks with allegations of alcohol consumption in the workplace and the pending trail by another astronaut for alleged kidnapping and the tragic loss of two space craft and 14 personnel.
Hopefully this Wednesday STS-118 will be launched after several postponements.
This particular launch will be somewhat historic as it will have teacher Barbara Morgan onboard who ironically was Christa McAuliffe training partner in 1986.
Christa McAuliffe became a fatality in the tragic Challenger disaster some 20 years ago. Christa was part of NASA's Teacher in Space program Christa was to be the first teacher in space. The teacher in space program was subsequently cancelled in 1986.
In 1998 NASA reactivated the teacher in space program and Morgan began her astronaut training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to fly as an astronaut. Her new title is Educator Mission Specialist. After Challenger demise Morgan continued to teaching second and third grades at McCall-Donnelly Elementary School in Idaho. Morgan left teaching in 1998 to begin a new career as an astronaut. At the time of launch she will be in her 50s.
It is expected that this latest shuttle mission will continue in the construction of the space station STS-118 will deliver a much needed module to the new orbiting space station.
The space shuttle craft are running on borrowed time these aging space vehicles are starting to need major refurbishments if there to continue flying. NASA is proposing new space shuttle designs to be introduced within 3 years.
NASA image
NASA’s image has certainly taken a beating over the last few weeks with allegations of alcohol consumption in the workplace and the pending trail by another astronaut for alleged kidnapping and the tragic loss of two space craft and 14 personnel.
Hopefully this Wednesday STS-118 will be launched after several postponements.
This particular launch will be somewhat historic as it will have teacher Barbara Morgan onboard who ironically was Christa McAuliffe training partner in 1986.
BarbaraMorgan ChristaMcAuliffe circa 1986
In 1998 NASA reactivated the teacher in space program and Morgan began her astronaut training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to fly as an astronaut. Her new title is Educator Mission Specialist. After Challenger demise Morgan continued to teaching second and third grades at McCall-Donnelly Elementary School in Idaho. Morgan left teaching in 1998 to begin a new career as an astronaut. At the time of launch she will be in her 50s.
The space shuttle craft are running on borrowed time these aging space vehicles are starting to need major refurbishments if there to continue flying. NASA is proposing new space shuttle designs to be introduced within 3 years.
NASA image
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
yes poor old NASA has taken a beating! Its only unexpected success being the little rovers on the surface of Mars, which keep on going, yet are probably about to pack it in, due to loss of power from filthy solar panels...now why on "Earth" did they not think of a wiper system? They knew it got windy on Mars. Seems for all the brains there, sometimes the obvious just slips on by.
And what of this space station, and its computers? I wonder if that will be solved properly, that is, having back-up that can be immediately put in place if the original fails?
cheers
fog
Comment by CarlCan
Astro Earth