2012 and Planet X News Blog

America is due to shut down the Space Shuttle fleet in 2010 and probably won’t have any manned flights before 2015, according to Space Daily, when the Aries - Orion rocket-and-capsule system is scheduled to be unveiled.

Europe seeks ISS extension, flights for its astronauts

ISS Columbus Astronaut EVA

by Staff Writers
Le Bourget, France (AFP) June 16, 2009
The European Space Agency said Tuesday it was in talks to extend the life of the International Space Station and get seats for its astronauts on future flights to the orbital outpost.

“From a technical standpoint we are working on keeping the station alive at least up to 2025,” ESA’s director of human spaceflight, Simonetta di Pippo, told AFP on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show.

The International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled to be completed in 2010 after a 12-year assembly effort, leaving only five years before the facility, which has cost tens of billions of dollars, is scheduled to be scrapped.

“On one side we are talking with the Russians about how we can acquire additional flight opportunities, before and after 2015, and in parallel we are also discussing an agreement with the Americans for our astronauts to be trained on the Orion system,” she said.

This leaves the Russian Soyuz orbiters as the only transportation, supply and rescue system available to the ISS during those years.  In my opinion, having only one source of rescue is not wise, especially in the time between 2010 and 2015.  Perhaps our gov should rethink decommissioning the shuttles.

Catch you on the Backside!

Janice Manning
2012 and Planet X Bulletin