July 08, 2011, 10:04 AM —
The space shuttle Atlantis is seen on Launch Pad 39A.
REUTERS/NASA
Up goes the Atlantis (today, if weather permits), but down goes the shuttle program. This will be the last flight of any space shuttle. The country that put men on the moon will now have to hitchhike to the International Space Station.
Some, like the Boston Globe, call it "a long overdue, but bittersweet end to NASA's shuttle program." Others, like the Houston Chronicle, take NASA's constant assurances that they will be flying again soon realistically, which means looking at the fact the US has no new model of shuttle ready to take over for the retired shuttles. Since Houston is big in the space biz, the Chronicle's extensive coverage also asks if the shuttle was a good investment.
[Also see: In pictures: Space shuttle Discovery's final mission]
Can we afford to keep flying into space? Or is the question whether we can afford not to keep flying?
Spend the money on people who live on Earth and protecting the planet! -- McFlash10 on boston.com
All that wasted money that some people beleive was spent on the NASA program and the military in general is what gives the people the ability to enjoy a vast array of new technology including the Internet. Who do you think put the satellites in orbit? You can thank these programs for sat/com systems developed with all that "wasted" money which in turn gave birth to many offspring companies using that technology which in turn provides employment "jobs" for people. -- Mdina on boston.com
Houston has many citizens employed in NASA and supporting companies. Those folks can get a bit wound up, and see the loss of the shuttle as the end of the space program in many ways.
You say, “This really is the key question: When will NASA fly its own spacecraft again?” But I ask you, why is that the key question? I say the key question is, “Why can’t NASA develop a new vehicle?” Their track record is terrible, and yes, Congress is a big part of the problem. -- Bill Hensley on chron.com
And, as I stated years ago, no orbital vehicle now under development will have the capabilities of the shuttle. We went from a Model T with the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules, to a Cadillac with the shuttle, and are now going backwards to a Model A. -- Dr. Dave on chron.com
Comments on a Houston Chronicle story about whether the shuttle was a good invesment:
From a parochial standpoint, the shuttle has been a tremendous investment for southeast Texas. I’m not so sure for the rest of the country. It would be interesting to see a large enough survey done that could capture the geographical differences of opinion. -- Rich Abercrombie
The Space Shuttle program alone has generated more than 100 technology spinoffs. [artificial heart, infrared camera, prosthesis material, vehicle tracking system etc.] -- Vanessa
Here are some great photos from Technology Review.
What do you think? Is stopping the shuttle program cost effective or crazy?
