Tim Furniss
Former Shuttle astronaut Brewster Shaw, now heading the Boeing space station programme, has questioned the optimistic flight rate of 10 to 12 missions per year which NASA is suggesting may be required to keep the International Space Station (ISS) on target for completion in 2004.
Shaw, who clocked 22 days of space time on missions STS 9, 61B and 28 in 1983-1989 and once headed the Space Shuttle programme, says flying more than eight missions a year "would tax the system", especially with the level of employees at United Space Alliance which operates the Space Shuttle for NASA.
United Space Alliance is "doing quite well but it would be difficult to sustain a high flight rate", says Shaw.
As a result of the privatisation of Shuttle operations and cutbacks at the Kennedy Space Centre (KSC), hundreds of jobs were lost, creating fears that safety and fleet viability would be placed in jeopardy.
With eight Space Shuttle ISS missions a year, it would be difficult to complete the assembly by 2004, its completion being so dependent on the Shuttle fleet. The Shuttle will also be required to fly some non-ISS missions during this period.
Shaw says that two buildings at the KSC were "chock full" of International Space Station (ISS) components waiting to fly. Until the Russian service module Zvezda is launched, they will remain there.
Zvezda should be launched in November, freeing the Shuttle to fly a logistics mission in December. In February 2000, the Shuttle launch of the first components to really get the assembly going is due.
If Zvezda is not launched by March 2000 or is lost in a launch failure, NASA would call into service the US Naval Research Laboratory Interim Control Module to take its place. Clearly, there would then be further delays to the assembly schedule.
Aside from the flight rate, is the possibility of a Shuttle accident. The loss of an orbiter - and its crew - could ground the programme as a result of calls from Congress and the American public.
Shaw believes, however, that there is a will in America for the Shuttle to continue flying.
Source: Flight Daily News
