Beyond Atlantis: What's Next for US in Space?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/07/earlyshow/main20077459.shtml For the first time in 50 years, the U.S. will have no launch vehicle. And until a new one can be built -- perhaps in five years -- American astronauts will hitch rides from former space rival Russia, on Soyouz spacecraft.

Mike Griffin, a former NASA administrator, told CBS News, "Right now, we are dependent upon Russia, and I do find that unseemly for the United States. I find that unseemly in the extreme."

The Obama administration, Orr reported, insists the U.S. space program will go on with astronauts using commercially-built rockets to reach the space station, and ultimately, a new NASA-built spacecraft to go farther into deep space.

So the launch of Atlantis will be exciting, but bittersweet, Orr added, saying it will be a celebration marked by big questions about what comes next.

On "The Early Show" Thursday, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr. told co-anchor Erica Hill criticism over the ending of the space program -- particularly without a back-up plan -- is misguided, saying NASA has spent seven years working on a "well-organized transition plan" for phasing out the shuttle and "moving on to the next era."

"We're excited about what President Obama is allowing us to do, working hard with the commercial entities," he said. "We hope to fly our first commercial cargo missions early next year. They will be American-made rockets flying cargo to the International Space Station, and we're already starting to work with commercial entities. (We) hope to release a request for proposal on commercial contracts to take crews to orbit; maybe three years after we let the contract, we'll have a capability."

Hill said, "A number of astronauts have spoken over the last few weeks (and) have said it seems like U.S.-manned space flight is really hanging by a thread. ... Mike Griffin said ... it doesn't seem like good national policy. And there's a lot of folks who say the next astronaut who goes up may not have a NASA badge on. Is it still an American space program if it's working out that way?"

Bolden responded, "With all due respect to (Griffin), American astronauts will continue to operate on the International Space Station at least through 2020, and we're actually certifying the station so we can operate beyond that, if that's what the nation and our international partners choose."

As for NASA after Atlantis lands, Bolden said the Kennedy Space Center will begin renovations of launch pads and facilities in preparation for commercial entities.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• NASA
• Atlantis
• space shuttle
• cape canaveral
• launch vehicle
• space x
• virgin 1
• space station
• orion
• kennedy space center

[dks13827]

Will will be lucky if we get manned space flight back again.

[Fellowroot]

I'm sorry but the prayer before the mission is fruitless. Praying does nothing more than to try and satisfy emotion feelings it had nothing to do with the safety of the mission.

[rondygal]

This so bad for Florida. They are alreadyt having a horrible time with housing, as far as many homes just sitting enpty. Even with the new jobs created after the initial loss, they won't bring back all the jobs being lost. I feel so bad for all those families. Thanks for posting this.