Should the space shuttle's life be extended beyond 2010?

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If tensions continue to rise between Russia and Georgia, Russian Soyuz rockets may be off limits to American astronauts, which would force NASA to use the aging space shuttle to reach the international space station. However, NASA says there is a 1-in-8 chance of losing a shuttle and crew if it adds 10 flights after 2010.

Is it worth the risk to continue exploring space? Or should the shuttle cease operations as intended in 2010 and wait for an alternative vehicle?

Click "post reply" above to comment.

This is a no brainer; of course we should continue to use the equipment we have until it is replaced, our American way of living is at stake. We have given up so much in that way to date. Space travel is a risk, but a very necessary one and we should all give up a gallon of gas, pack of cig, etc to stay the course.
Mike

It's hard to believe that we are still using a design based on 1980 technology. It's typical of the failure to address our needs in infrastructure generally. The shuttle is a disaster waiting to happen and needs to be scrapped, with a high tech simple reusable vehicle brought online.

We've spent untold billions to get the station up there...I'm positive Russia will NOT be a reliable partner and will end up black mailing the US once we become dependent upon them for access to the Station. We need to have a transport vehicle in place....keep the shuttle going until the replacment is built!

The replacement is crap anyway... keep the shuttle.

I'm not actually American but from the UK. We visited Kennedy recently and I'm fascinated by what you guys have achieved. We couldn't believe it when we saw what they're intending to replace the shuttle with - it looks like the process is going backwards not forwards and I definately can't imagine how the US could trust Russia after recent events. Can't the shuttle be updated to make sure it's safe? Couldn't a new modern shuttle be manufacturered updating the technology? It might be old but if it works who cares!

I am of the opinion that the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA]NASA[/url] should definitely not take the risk of losing the shuttle and the crew. I think that it is irresponsible to just consider something like that.

1. Soyuz is a 40 year old design - don't stop the Russians flying a 40 year old system. Age is not an issue. Each Orbiter was designed to fly 100 missions.
2. Shuttle is the safest manned space system - better than Soyuz, better than Apollo based on statiscal information.
3. Cost of Shuttle extension is trivial ( $2.5 Billion a year).
4. Shuttle should fly out ISS program as that's what it was designed for. Orion/Ares should be for Lunar missions only.
5. If Ares is scrapped then develop HLV as per John Shannon plan.

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