Crews exchange greetings after shuttle docks successfully – CNN.com
Crews exchange greetings after shuttle docks successfully – CNN.com:
OK, I hate to say this, as I love the space program, but if half the mission when the Shuttle gets to orbit is ensuring it will survive the deorbit burn, maybe its time to rethink the vehicle? Its akin to getting into your car, getting on the freeway to your destination, then thinking: well I hope we have brakes!
Ethan: That’s why Shuttle end-of-life will happen early next decade [I don't believe the 2010 deadline, knowing the ISS Assembly Sequence and directly working in the logistics and maintenance flow], and also why we’re quickly working on the ARES I program to replace Shuttle. We would stop flying it today and put all monies into ARES, but there’s no other vehicle capable of carrying the components left to install on the International Space Station.
Once again, Von Braun was right—you don’t expose your heat shield during flight transition.