NASA's Space Shuttle could still be flying in the year 2020 or even 2030, a Boeing executive said yesterday.
Richard Stephens, vice-president and general manager of the company's reusable space systems division, says the Shuttle's four-orbiter fleet, which is approaching its 100th flight, is only 25% through its lifetime.
Through continued upgrades which have been earmarked through to 2015, the Shuttle will be able to sustain its flight rate.
Future improvements include advanced avonics, new auxiliary power units, a damage resistant thermal protection system and integrated health monitoring systems.
Improvements
The Space Shuttle has already received a number of improvements, including the installation of a glass cockpit in the Atlantis. Other orbiters will be equipped with these cockpits.
One of the major upgrades to the Space Shuttle is liquid fly back boosters (LFBB) to replace the present solid rocket strap-on boosters. This programme is still in initial design stages.
Stephens thinks efforts will concentrate first on upgrading the orbiters as much as possible.
An approval for the development of LFBBs is not likely until 2002.
Source: Flight Daily News
