New Age

Well, now that Space Shuttle Atlantis has touched down from its final mission we can breath a sigh of relief and cast a nostalgic eye back at the former US manned space program....and look ahead to its future!

There ARE some potentially groundbreaking and very exciting developments in space travel occurring in the "private sector". Here are just two of the companies that will be supplying the hardware for the next generation of Astronauts.


Scaled Composites: SpaceShipTwo
 http://www.scaled.com/projects/model_339_spaceshiptwo

SpaceShipTwo will be powered by a unique hybrid rocket motor, which is currently under development. The twin fuselage and central payload area configuration allow for easy access to WhiteKnightTwo and the spaceship for passengers and crew; the design also aids operational efficiencies and turnaround times. SpaceShipTwo utilizes the unique feather configuration that allowed SpaceShipOne to successfully re-enter the atmosphere. Although the presently planned flights are sub-orbital and this design will not likely support orbital flights, it is a step back in the direction of space plane technology. Scaled Composites is in partnership with Virgin Galactic http://www.virgingalactic.com/ who is presently selling tickets for flights on SS2...sign up for yours today!!

 

 

SpaceX: Dragon/Falcon 

http://www.spacex.com/dragon.php

Dragon is a free-flying, reusable spacecraft being developed by SpaceX under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. Initiated internally by SpaceX in 2005, the Dragon spacecraft is made up of a pressurized capsule and unpressurized trunk used for Earth to LEO transport of pressurized cargo, unpressurized cargo, and/or crew members. Dragon will likely be the U.S.A.s vehicle of choice to supply the ISS and transport crew members.

 

 

STS-135: The Shuttle Program's Final Space Odyssey

This is, perhaps, the most disheartening statement i have ever heard from an astronaut;
"The shuttle is an amazing piece of machinery," astronaut Stan Love said. "It blows away anything that can fly now or in the next 30 years."
Let's hope this prediction ends up being overly pessimistic.

 STS-135: The Shuttle Program's Final Space Odyssey : The Two-Way : NPR

STS-134

I guess there's no question that i love space science. The manned missions are particularly stimulating because we are "boldly going". It's like science fiction brought to realization....but i have always hoped that the outdated shuttle system would soon be replaced with newer and more competent spacecraft.
   This mission, Endeavour STS134, will be one of the last shuttle missions before these spaceships are retired. Since the United States presently has no replacement for them we will likely be hitching a ride in Russian Soyuz capsules (a technological step backwards in my opinion).
   Although private American companies are presently developing new hardware for getting astronauts into Earth orbit, it seems it will be a while before we have another functional "space plane". So, while i'm glad to see these old and often unreliable spacecraft retire, i will miss the sight and excitement of the shuttle missions....of seeing a ship blast off into "The Final Frontier" and glide back down to land on a runway.
Here's hoping the next "Enterprise" isn't too far off in our future.

STS-134