Capsules May Replace Shuttles

It was announced in mid September that a new generation of Apollo-type space capsules might replace the present troubled fleet of space shuttles

Unlike shuttles that land like aircraft, capsules splash down in the ocean and must be recovered by ships.

The resurrection of space capsules, which last launched three decades ago, is gaining favor among astronauts, space agency officials and congressional staffers after the shuttle Columbia disaster that killed seven astronauts on February 1.

The 13 members of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board were unanimous in urging NASA to replace the aging shuttles as soon as possible by using existing technology and materials.

A day before this announcement, NASA had said that the next space shuttle flight, designed to test repairs that might have saved Columbia, would not make a March launch target and might not fly until midyear.

The space agency has spent billions of dollars since the mid-1990s trying unsuccessfully to design a new winged spacecraft, begging the question of whether a winged plane could be delivered by 2008 under a now accelerated timetable.

One of the aerospace scientists picked by NASA to design new systems, has estimated that development of the technology to produce a truly safe, winged reusable spacecraft could take 15 to 20 years.

Detailed requirements for what has been called an orbital space plane were issued by NASA in September to three contractor teams who will propose designs and compete for the work.

For now, NASA is careful to avoid publicly expressing any opinion on what shape the new craft should take, and to stress that there are pros and cons to winged and capsule designs.

But NASA spokesman said there was no requirement that the craft be plane-like despite its name.

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Khorsheed.com – Oct 2003