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Thursday, September 04, 2003

 

NASA Plans Space Commute Craft  

WASHINGTON -- In just five years, astronauts may journey to the International Space Station in a stripped-down four-seater instead of the mammoth -- and aging -- space shuttle. In effect, NASA hopes to commute to orbit in a sleek sedan instead of an 18-wheeler.

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe announced plans for the Orbital Space Plane before space shuttle Columbia came apart over Texas and killed seven astronauts on Feb. 1. But the tragedy has added a powerful incentive to find a cheaper, simpler and more dependable way to ferry astronauts between the space station and Earth.




I wonder how their design will compete against Burt Rutan's X Competition entry? I will simply add my voice to that of so many others: we MUST go to space. This planet will not support human beings, in the manner to which they've become accustomed, forever. If we make it through the next hundred years without running out of resources and collapsing into anarchy and poverty, it will be a miracle. Each and every day, there are more mouths to feed and bodies to clothe. And less resources available to do it with. We have to support the development of space travel BEFORE WE ARE TOO POOR TO AFFORD IT. Politics as usual can kill us all.



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