Shuttles Into 2011

NASA has decided to delay the final two scheduled shuttle missions, which takes the last one into 2011. The agency would also like to fly one additional mission, which would be tentatively scheduled for next summer, but it needs White House approval for an extra flight. That approval has so far not been forthcoming, and to fly next summer the approval is needed soon.

NASA says the delays are due to cargo delivery and scheduling problems. Accurate as that may be, pushing shuttle flights into 2011 also has a political angle. Many people concerned about President Obama's new approach to manned spaceflight at NASA-- including several members of Congress-- have called for shuttle flights into at least 2011, to cut down on the gap between the last shuttle flight and the first flight of the next American manned spacecraft-- whatever that will be and whenever it will fly. Moving flights into 2011, thus keeping the support team employed beyond the 2010 elections, may also weaken the issue of dismantling that skilled workforce as a campaign issue in key House races this year.

Cargo delivery may indeed be the cause of the delay, but history has turned on smaller matters.