What is your opinion of the next NASA spacecraft?
964773
You are not the only one, but you are part of a very misinformed group.\n\nThe new system (Ares I and Ares V) will do every job we need it to do. It is true we are sacrificing some of the versatility of the shuttle, however, you are insanely mistaken about cost.\n\nThe shuttle costs about 500 million per launch... far from the promised 25 million of 20 years ago. This is a staggering number when you compare that the entire Apollo program from inception to final launch only cost about 13 billion. The Ares rockets will be cheaper and mostly re-useable. The first stage of Ares I and the strap-on stages of Ares V are actually just 5 segment shuttle RSRM's.\n\nCurrently, the solid rocket boosters on the Space Shuttle (the white rockets on the sides) are 4-segment motors. The Ares first stage for the manned rocket will be the Shuttle RSRM with an extra segment. The strap-on rockets on the HLV (Ares V, heavy lift vehicle) will be the same rockets as well. The Ares V will also have a liquid portion of its first stage. Ares I will have a liquid second stage which will burn up on re-entry. However, the capsule will be refurbuished and re-used.\n\nFor the most part, the rockets will be re-used. Fairings and the second stage liquid motors as well as the LEM/Service Module will be the largest expense as these will not be fully re-used. However, overall the program will be FAR less costly than the shuttle program, and will do FAR more for us. The shuttle can only launch into Earth orbit and cannot get to the Moon. The new Ares rockets will be able to do orbital as well as Lunar missions, and increase the US's versatility in space.\n\nDamaged satellites, the ISS, and all will be easily repaired and supplied with the new rockets. Sure, it may seem like a step back. But why fix what ain't broken? These systems will be far more simplistic, safer, cheaper, and more robust than the STS systems. Ares is only a first step, and your tech tooth will be satisfied when Nuclear rockets or some other new rocket technology takes us past the Moon and onto Mars.
1179969
Not soon enough.\nSince there is no Super-power race for space dominance, it comes down to "will it make a profit".  So, when some industry or company decides they can make a few million bucks, it'll happen.  Until then, don't go looking for tickets for the moon shuttle.
1076466
Cool, thanks so much for the idea. I believe that the space industry would love it.\n\nI have a few connections with Raytheon (formally Hughs Aircraft) and a few connection within the military. I will take my idea to them and see if I can get it started.
1045032
We're hiring slowly, but growing. We build many telecommunication spacecraft. Most large structures are Composite while smaller structures and components are aluminum.\n The industry will soon develop a replacement for the Shuttle which only has a few years left of service
876304
The replacement, the Crew Exploratory vehicle, won't be in service until 2014. \n\nThe space shuttle will be kept in service until the space station is completed, around 2010, and the Hubble Space Telescope has been serviced, which is scheduled for early 2008.
494723
Not very, not yet, those last two satalite launches (a few weeks ago) are going to make it better and, eventually, cheaper.\n\nThere's dead spots.  It's like using a cell phone....
18018
Solar Sails are a very interesting technology that could be used for future space exploration, but currently face serious engineering issues to be able to do this.  \n\nFuture manned and robotic space exploration outside of our solar system could currently be considered a pipe dream.  Solar Sails, along with fusion motors, Bussard ramjets, antimatter drives, and Von Neumann machines are the various technologies being research as possible ways to further our manned and robotic exploration of space outside of our own solar system.\n\nAs far as the speed for a Solar Sail, most Solar Sail proposals would provide thrust for the craft with a very large laser. The actual speed of the craft would depend on the size of the craft and the size of the laser used, and the amount of time the laser would be able to provide thrust for the craft.
395478
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
908500
Manned space flight!\nThe multiple innovations that had to be overcome was tremendous and involved many different engineering fields.\nThink of all the systems that have to work exactly so that man could make it to the moon?\nHey how about the millions of parts that have to work for the space shuttle!
678935
Which one? There have been at least 4 but the latest one is still looking for signs of life.  check out http://wwww.nasa.gov
967621
Well, you are correct in that sittin' around will end in our collective lifes' destruction.  And attempts at proving life beyond Earth are ongoing.  Many of the missions to Mars are currently trying to prove that (among other things).  SETI is also an attempt to see or hear if anything is out there.  But that's a shot in the dark (har, har, de har har).\n\nThere are some significant steps being made to make spacecraft that can go "fast".  VASMIR (plasma rocket) among other things.\n\nThe two technologies that will drive us into the next level of abilities are quantum and nano technology.  Those will have significant impact on everything we build and contemplate.\n\nEventually our sun will get hotter, that could boil off our oceans (way before the sun bloats).  The Earths core could also cool enough that our magnetic field dissappears.  This would cause our atomosphere to slowly whisp away.\n\nBeing able to live in more hostile environments with nearly 100% recycling ability is our greatest challenge.  WIth that, we can start making our way out of this solar system and on to the next.\n\nWrite me for more discussion.  Fa shizzle.
735612
I would go if I could afford it! Hopefully this commercilization of space will have the same effect as when anything becomes commercial - Things cost less and less and advancement come faster and faster. I'm waiting for a week long vacation at a space hotel.
399485
I think they are both great!  They both strive for a larger understanding of life.  ESA does it with less money and politics and NASA keeps going even when they have set backs.
35022
1) It will reach Pluto in the year 2015\n2) It is the fastest rocket we've launched\n3) It will pass the Moon in 9 hours instead of the days it took for Apollo missions.\n4) It will map the surface of Pluto and its moon using radar and cameras\n5) It is powered by a plutonium core\n6) It will gain even more speed from a gravity assist at Jupiter in the year 2007\n7) The probe is moving so quickly, it will pass Mars in April of 2006\n8) It has an American flag, a plaque with names and other mementos of Earth onboard; much like a bottle being tossed into the universe.\n9) It will study some asteroids in the Kupier asteroid belt before leaving the solar system\n10) There were limited protests by environmentalists who worried that the use of a plutonium (nuclear power) battery would pose a risk if the spacecraft accidentally exploded during launch
70938
The newest one is Sedna. It's not a planet though.
60184
There are so many thing that NASA is doing... Here are some of them:\n\n01.19.06 - NASA Seeks Transporation Proposals \nNASA is challenging U.S. industry to create new capabilities and services that will support the Vision for Space Exploration.\n\n01.18.06 - NASA Announces Stardust Mission Briefing \nNASA announced a news conference at 11 a.m. EST (10 a.m. CST) tomorrow to discuss the comet and interstellar dust samples returned to Earth by the Stardust spacecraft.\n\n01.18.06 - NASA Awards Engineering Support Contract \nNASA has awarded a $34 million contract to The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. to provide engineering development and analysis for the space shuttle and ISS.\n \n01.13.06 - ISS Status Report: SS06-002 \nExpedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev completed an important upgrade to the station's spacewalk preparation systems.\n \n01.12.06 - Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report: E06-002 \nThe launch of Pluto New Horizons is scheduled Jan. 17.\n\n------- NASA ALERTS ------\nLatest Stardust News \nNASA brings cometary and interstellar particles back to Earth.\n \nAudio Clips: Jan. 13 Expedition 13 briefing \nThe next residents of the International Space Station discussed their mission during a news conference Thursday, Jan. 12 at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.\n \nNew Horizons Web and TV Coverage: Jan. 15-17 \nNASA will offer a Webcast on Jan. 15; launch coverage starts at 11 a.m. EST on Jan. 17.\n \n----- BREAKING NEWS -----\n01.19.06 - NASA Awards Scientific Support Contract \nNASA has selected SGT, Inc., Greenbelt, Md., for award of the Geophysics, Geodynamics and Space Geodesy Support contract.\n \n01.19.06 - NASA Seeks Transporation Proposals \nNASA is challenging U.S. industry to create new capabilities and services that will support the Vision for Space Exploration.\n \n\nBut if you want a real update and the complete story for that go to my source...
47636
Yes I have.  They featured an article about it on Space.com and the NASA website.  Seems that many other Kuiper belt objects have mutiple satellites (moons) as well.  It will be interesting what the New Horizon probe will find when it gets out to Pluto and beyond.  I am hoping the launch will be on time so it can use the gravitational assist from Jupiter to get there quicker.  There was a NASA site where a person could get their name placed on a CD that is launching with the probe.  Several of my friends and I signed up and our names are on that disk now.