NASA Sets Dates For Space Shuttle Finale 56
coondoggie writes "After some debate, NASA today said it has set the final two launch dates for its venerable space shuttles: Nov. 1 for space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission, and Feb. 26, 2011, for the liftoff of shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission. NASA said the dates needed to be adjusted because critical payload hardware for STS-133 will not be ready in time to support the planned Sept. 16 launch."
Hurray! (Score:4, Insightful)
The space shuttle was an incredibly overpriced way of launching cargo and people into low orbit.
Perhaps now the money that was overpaid for transport will be better spent on actual science.
And if NASA buys launches from private firms, then NASA can help kick-start an efficient private launch industry.
Re:Hurray! (Score:3, Insightful)
NASA has been buying launchers and launches from private firms since roughly .002 seconds after NASA was founded, and if you'll look around you'll notice a distinct lack of an 'efficient' private launch industry. (Assuming that by 'efficient' you actually mean to say 'cheap'.) Adding a handful of flights per year to that total won't chnage much.
And really, when it comes to government contracting on this level - there's a huge lock in effect. Whoever wins the COTS contract in the end is going to be the next Boeing - heavily dependent on government handouts and almost impossible to dislodge.