Graham Warwick/SEAL BEACH
Boeing is drawing up proposals for upgrades which would extend the Space Shuttle's service life to 2030, almost 20 years beyond current plans.
The move follows NASA's decision not to fund work on a Shuttle-derived vehicle under its five-year, $4.7 billion Space Launch Initiative (SLI), which aims to develop technology for a second-generation reusable launch vehicle (RLV) to replace the Shuttle.
Boeing is concerned a Shuttle replacement would be too costly to develop commercially, as NASA intends. "We estimate it will cost $15-20 billion to develop a human-rated second-generation RLV," says Jayne Schnaars, head of strategic planning for Boeing's Human Space Flight & Exploration division in Seal Beach, California.
Keeping the Shuttle in service could allow commercial development of a cargo-only second-generation RLV, believes Boeing. "A Shuttle-evolved vehicle was not selected for SLI. Internally, we have a plan for how we would evolve the Shuttle to stay in service through 2030," says Schnaars.
NASA plans to stop funding Shuttle upgrades in 2005 but will continue flying the vehicle to 2012. Boeing expects the Shuttle will be needed until at least 2016-20, to support the International Space Station. "Each orbiter is designed for 100 flights. There are over 300 flights left. At the current launch rate it is capable of flying through to 2030," says Schnaars.
Liquid fly-back boosters have been discounted as a planned Shuttle upgrade because of cost.
Source: Flight International
