posted on Sep, 15 2011 @ 09:30 AM
Apparently NASA made an
yesterday in which they have revealed their plans for the retired shuttle's replacement and giving themselves once again the capability to send
astronauts
posted on Sep, 15 2011 @ 09:30 AM
Apparently NASA made an
yesterday in which they have revealed their plans for the retired shuttle's replacement and giving themselves once again the capability to send
astronauts into space.
Yesterday, the agency announced plans to build the most powerful rocket in history
However, this new space faring capability will not be available until around 2017 at the earliest when it's scheduled to go into test phase.
Initially, the new vehicle will be capable of lifting 70 tonnes into orbit but plans are already being made to improve the lift capacity by almost
doubling it up to 130 tonnes.
Interestingly enough, NASA's release mentions that this new vehicle with it's improved lift will be capable of sending astronauts BEYOND
... and be capable of launching humans beyond low Earth orbit
so does that mean that a visit to an asteroid or two is now a distinct likely-hood? And I guess that a manned mission to Mars has also just moved one
or two steps closer to reality.
I guess that NASA weren't too thrilled about having to be permanently reliant on hitching rides with the Russian or European space agencies
edit on 15/9/11 by tauristercus because