Value of the space shuttle program?

Question

http://www.usatoday.com/news/usaedition/2011-04-27-shuttlescience27-ST-Many-billio_ST_U.htm

Yesterday, the USA Today published the above piece by Dan Vergano. It kinda ticked me off. I'm an 80's baby. I've known the shuttle my entire life. I watched in grade school as the Challenger blew up on launch, and I like to believe that the astronauts/families feel they died doing something worth while.

His achievements argument seems short sighted to me. He failure to include the space shuttle's role in the Hubble Space Telescope is just insulting. Hubble would have been a short lived disaster without the shuttle.

Additionally, I feel the cost was insignificant. There is a priceless emotional value. Even at $144B that is less than $400 per American. It seems to me that is a small price for inspiring American youth.

Your thoughts? Thanks.

Answer 1

I compartmentalize my nostalgic and emotional interpretation of the Shuttle Program with the more rational, fact seeking part.



Yes, I was born in 1980, so the Shuttle is he only Human Space Flight I have known in the USA.



That being said, the program had the highest fatalty rate of any mode of transportation. It was bulkier than it was supposed to be. It took longer than expected to repair and replace damaged parts. It was never cost effective. The aging fleet reminded me of the 1994 Ford Escort that I had since it was new, that I finally donated last year... The money spent replacing parts and repairing tiles, could easily pay for a newer vehicle.



I am disappointed that the Constellation Program was... canceled, I was really looking foreward to that. But all things equal, The Space Shuttle will have a place in my heart because of the memories, not because of the successes.

Answer 2

The most current value of the space shuttle program comes when you stand near a launch, feel the ground ripple under your feet, hear the roar of the engines from miles away, and feel proud to be an American as you watch the star launched by Earth enter the night sky.



As far as past value goes, the shuttles were absolutely necessary to get where we are today.



As for future value, I think it has diminished potential at this point. What we need now are orbital maintenance vehicles that are in constant orbit, as well as a new shuttle hybrid that can land and take off from the moon.



However, instead of ditching the shuttles on Earth, why not convert them for permanent docking at the ISS and let them serve as extra science bays/workstations/dining rooms?

Answer 3

The article was slanted to look at the negatives of the space shuttle program. Personally I think

anything that undertakes learning more about the universe has value. Space shuttles were part of that. So,yes,he does seem short-sighted,maybe he just doesn't appreciate money spent on the space program at all. Many people don't appreciate the value of the technology we've gained just by exploring space,or the possibilities for the future if we continue to do so.

Answer 4

The classic six stages of a project - especially a government project - are:



1.Great expectations

2. Diminished hopes

3. Utter panic

4. Search for the guilty

5. Punishment of the innocent

6. Heap praise on the non-participants



My rough estimate is that the Shuttle Program is currently somewhere between stages 5 and 6. Of course, these latter stages are generally conducted by those - like Mr Vergano - who have no technical understanding of the efforts involved.

Answer 5

Technically, he's quite accurate in cataloging the flaws of the shuttle concept and its failure to live up to expectations. Technically, it was an expensive, inefficient hangar queen, which lumbered onwards in service because successive administrations failed to replace it.



It did have its moments, as you say. It was inspiring. But, it did these things not because it was a particularly good way to get to space and back, but because it was the ONLY option available.



NASA certainly did good work with what they were stuck with. But, I'm glad, for the sake of the space program, that a reasonable replacement is FINALLY on the horizon. It should have happened a decade ago.



Manned space flight is certainly something worthwhile, but... your astronauts died for technical flaws which made the Shuttle an exceptionally fussy craft to fly.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

A very poor return on the time and money spent........a non-manned program would have obtained ten times the discoveries for half the money ( and not sacrificed astronauts)...............the second biggest dog from NASA ( top dog is the Space Station).