Space Shuttle

[W. Gray]

The Space Shuttle blasted off this morning with seven people on board.

At one time, the shuttle was to have been made of titanium to withstand reentry heat, but due to cost they decided to use those pesky insulating tiles. Damage to those tiles caused the deaths of the astronauts a few years ago. The original shuttle was also to have had a jet engine. When it came down, the pilot could fly it to any runway that was long enough. That was also cut. The result was a big expensive glider.

The Space Shuttle is supposed to be phased out in 2010. The replacement is the Orion spacecraft, which looks like the Apollo spacecraft but is larger and holds six people rather than three. The contract was awarded last year.

Seems a step backwards but the Orion is slated for both moon and Mars landings.

[W. Gray]

As an aside:  does anyone know where the Apollo spacecraft used in the 1995 Tom Hanks Apollo Thirteen movie came from?

Answer: Hutchinson, Kansas, Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Museum.