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Author
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Topic: What-if exercise: NASA studying option of keeping shuttle Endeavour flight-ready
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-03-2011 10:41 AM
   
MSNBC reports that NASA is considering a plan to keep the shuttle Endeavour in flight-like condition after its last scheduled mission. NASA has decided to study the option of keeping Endeavour in a flight-like condition at one of Kennedy Space Center's three Orbiter Processing Facilities, according to documents obtained by msnbc.com. This study is to examine what personnel and funding would be needed to retain Endeavour instead of giving it up..."Our baseline plan continues to be to process the shuttle orbiters for retirement and prepare them for display after their last flights," [NASA spokesman Michael Curie] said Thursday in his e-mail. "As a what-if budget exercise, we are looking at what it would cost if a recipient was not ready to take an orbiter right away, and if we wanted to keep an orbiter in long-term storage for potential engineering analysis." The article also makes mention of a commercial proposal by United Space Alliance to keep both Endeavour and Atlantis flying through 2017. For discussion of that report, see: CCDev: United Space Alliance's (USA) Commercial Shuttle Operations Architecture. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 02-03-2011 12:27 PM
With no "lifeboat" 2nd orbiter standing by? Or maybe this is the lifeboat. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-03-2011 12:36 PM
The MSNBC article can be confusing as there are two separate proposals being discussed.The first, the subject of this thread, is a NASA budget 'what-if' exercise to maintain Endeavour in flight-ready condition in storage, not to fly but rather to compensate for a museum recipient not being ready to accept it and for future engineering study. The second, the subject of the other thread, is a commercial proposal by USA to fly both Endeavour and Atlantis. To discuss that plan, please click through to that topic. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 02-04-2011 02:06 AM
Do we have a definition of what NASA mean by "flight ready status"? Is it ready to launch in one week, one month, one year or what? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-04-2011 06:11 AM
Presumably, "flight-like status" in this situation doesn't mean launch-ready. Rather, Endeavour wouldn't be put through museum display preparations, including having its hazardous systems stripped out. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 02-04-2011 12:02 PM
What is the lifespan for flight-ready SRB components? i.e. does the solid fuel had a expiration date. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-04-2011 12:35 PM
Loaded solid rocket motor canisters do have a shelf-life, though how long I do not know off-hand. This study however, only concerns maintaining the orbiter. Update: I consulted ATK about the shelf-life of the solid rocket boosters: For shuttle we are qualified for five years with the extension up to seven years. |
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