Space Shuttle Will Retire In Just 7 Launches
Space Shuttle Atlantis had a successful liftoff Monday afternoon on its way to the Hubble Space Telescope. The shuttle racing into space is always an amazing event, but we may only have the opportunity to see something like it seven more times before NASA retires the fleet.
As it stands now, NASA has Space Shuttle Endeavor targeted as the final shuttle mission May 31, 2010. Atlantis and Discovery have two more scheduled launches while Endeavor has three.
President Bush ordered the retirement of the shuttle fleet after the 2003 Columbia disaster. The shuttle’s retirement will free NASA funds so they can focus on the next generation of space travel. Some of these plans are up in the air due to recent economic news. There also seems to be some hesitation to end one program because current estimates don’t have the next program, Project Constellation, launching until 2014.
That would mean four years without a manned U.S. space program…and that four years could feasibly turn into something much longer. Either way, with an estimated seven flights left, enjoy them now.
Here is a great shot of STS-125 courtesy of NASA.
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