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Author
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Topic: Shuttle flights full: astronaut retirement rate
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Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 09-18-2009 04:02 PM
   
Now that there will be no more Shuttle flight assignments, only four to five ISS expedition slots per year for the next several years (and all of them for 2010 and 2011 filled), and Orion slots a distant prospect, will we see a sharp increase in astronaut retirements? |
Henk Boshuijer
Member Posts: 450
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007
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posted 09-18-2009 04:15 PM
Which astronauts are most likely to leave? Are there any rumours in the corridors of JSC? |
tfrielin
Member Posts: 162
From: Athens, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 09-19-2009 11:00 AM
I'm more interested in the current pool of shuttle astronauts: How many are currently in the ranks, but will not get a shuttle flight (barring an unfortunate accident with a currently assigned astronaut)?I know a number of scientist-astronauts and those late-transferred MOL astronauts during Apollo stuck around for quite a long time to finally get their Shuttle flights, but given the uncertainty with Orion moving forward, I wonder if any of the current soon-to-be non-flyers will even try to stick around? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-19-2009 11:56 AM
With the exception of the 2009 ascans (who will not be eligible for a spaceflight for another two years), all flight-qualified astronauts in the Office have flown or are assigned to a flight. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-19-2009 01:46 PM
Are the Soyuz/ISS assignments also filled? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-19-2009 01:56 PM
Soyuz/ISS flights through 2011 are now assigned. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 09-19-2009 10:12 PM
I imagine some astronauts will wait and see what comes out of the Augustine Commission report and what the Obama administration decides to do vis-a-vis the future course of the program, and weigh their options accordingly. I wouldn't be surprised to see the office reduced by a third to a half in the next several years, unless Obama surprises everyone and announces funding for an ambitious space exploration program. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 09-20-2009 06:24 PM
I think there will likely be some former astronauts currently in management positions retiring as the Shuttle program comes to an end, and some current members of the Astronaut Office moving into management. I would also expect to see a number of veteran shuttle commanders and pilots move on, since there won't be a whole lot for them to do until Orion starts gearing up. |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1587
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 09-20-2009 11:51 PM
There must be a few disappointed astronauts in Houston. I wonder if there is any resentment towards Steve Lindsay (flight #5 for the chief astronaut). |
icarkie
Member Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 09-21-2009 07:10 AM
I wonder how many will hold out for a flight, as long as Don Lind did with his.  |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 09-21-2009 09:50 AM
I very much doubt (hope) that Don Lind's record will ever be broken.   The difference between now and when Apollo ended was back then, you still had a lot of astronauts who hadn't flown. It was worth it to them to stay on and get at least one flight, lest the whole experience be for naught. Other than the current astronaut candidate class, there will be no one who hasn't flown at least one mission when STS-133 touches down. That means less incentive to hang around for years with the possibility of a future flight as the reason. Some will, some won't. Some will hang around for a while and work on a particular project or two before leaving, and there probably are a couple of John Young "lifers" among the current crop. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 09-21-2009 04:42 PM
As far as the ones that stick around, they will probably include the Kelly brothers as I believe Mark has expressed interest in flying Orion (or was it Scott?). Peggy Whitson will probably also remain as a manager due to her science division ties and her ability to work with the Russians. This will be the start of the period when the ISS fully transitions from a construction project to an on-orbit research and science project. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-25-2009 09:37 PM
The Los Angeles Times has a brief interview with Lindsey, during which he was asked about retention in the Astronaut Office: The number of astronauts will be decreasing... Right now we have about 80 astronauts. In the out years it will be more like 60 or so. |
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