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Post by Attero Dominatus on Jul 10, 2011 22:46:47 GMT -5
The final shuttle flight just launched recently.
While NASA may have been a bloated government bureaucracy, it is still sad to see the shuttle go. It is the closest thing there is to a reusable spacecraft (the orange external tank is the only part that is disposable) and was the only operational spacecraft the United States possessed capable of launching people into space.
Space X and Lockheed Martin are working on new spacecraft privately, but even private spaceflight is threatened by a bad economy.
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Post by Floyd Looney on Jul 11, 2011 15:04:53 GMT -5
It's pretty sad. I still think you could build something that would power and fuel and air up a shuttle and connect two of them and make a small space station.
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Post by Attero Dominatus on Jul 11, 2011 17:10:48 GMT -5
That and also orbital refueling stations. Orbital refueling stations would allow spacecraft to lift off with either less fuel or more payload and then refuel in orbit for either longer trips or de-orbiting. It would cut costs too.
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Post by Floyd Looney on Jul 11, 2011 17:18:57 GMT -5
I always dreamt of putting up "Platform One" an unmanned way station for refueling a ship that could go to the moon.
Back when I thought I could win the lotto and start a space program. lol
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