Fay dumped an extraordinary amount of rain on the area two weeks ago and shut down Kennedy Space Center for three days. Hanna threatened to do the same but, for now, was expected to remain far offshore and pose little if any threat.NASA May Extend Shuttle Program
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER -- NASA leaders are considering a major change in policy that could keep the shuttle program operational until the year 2015. That marks a dramatic turnaround from the stance taken by NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, who has steadfastly maintained that the last mission in the shuttle program would be in May of 2010.
The concerns with retiring the shuttle fleet in the year 2010 are two-fold. First, it would create a 5-year 'space gap' between the time the fleet retires and the time the successor vehicle in the Constellation program is ready to fly on a regular basis. Second, NASA stands to lose as many as 4,000 jobs once the shuttle is retired.
The space agency is quick to stress that the plan is for discussion purposes only, but both presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have expressed strong desires to continue the shuttle program past the year 2010.
NASA would face a difficult choice, if pressed to continue shuttle flights. As the fleet ages, it costs more to fly the orbiters. NASA also is dismantling part of the shuttle infrastructure to make room for the Constellation program. Even with a blank check, there would be a limit to progress. It would be imposed by the capacity to develop new technologies while continuing to support technologies that had their genesis in the 1970s.
NASA would face the prospect of delays in developing the Constellation program. It should be recognized that the potential exists that the Constellation program might find itself on indefinite hold, a victim of the need to keep the shuttle fleet operational.
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