This is the 13 May 2005 edition of this page and shows the updates to this topic and the frustrations in keeping up with repeated postponements and re-schedulings!
BACKGROUND - THE OBJECTIVES
The objects of this page of the web were to get the definition of NASA's Shuttle programme, ITS objectives, its vehicles and its time-scales.
It also helped to find out what part these vehicles play in the Space-Colony or International Space-Station Programme.
This page also TRACKED the Shuttle Programme from Edition 50 of my 'web' from 5th August '98 onwards!! As from edition 73, I have no longer reported on the launch-to-launch progress, but only on the 'overall picture'. NASA, due to latenesses in Russian actions, changes its schedule too frequently for that!
I still give 'links' to NASA, but (a warning) they also change frequently!!
THE SCHEDULE
There has been a continuous reassignment of dates - so we all have to keep correcting the dates in our diaries - the latest schedule takes us up until yet a different date!!
It is, furthermore, because of these too-frequent updates - that I have decided, NOW, that "Enough in enough" and that this site will no longer publish NASA's progress. The link to its schedule will still be kept,(beware the warning above) but it is now up to the reader to do a NASA-browse by him/her self. SORRY FOLKS!!
Furthermore, since the COLUMBIA accident in early 2003, and the work by the CAIB, the further postponement of SHUTTLE-READINESS has further frustrated everyone. After the CAIB's inital report, the first of the shuttles was scheduled to be NO SOONER THAN 11 April 2004.
As of today, 13:5:05, I now notice that the EARLIEST for STS114 is slated at 13 JULY 2005. The safety-status and procedures of NASA have taken severe criticism from 'the Board'. Just as well they have agreements with the Russians about the use of SOYUZ and other rockets in their collection for crew, trash and supplies!!
I can now devote more time to events under which I have a measure of 'control', namely my own travels, - and greater detail will be forthcoming on these.
(You will notice the different orbital inclinations - they are dependent on the Mission. For instance, those associated with the ISS all go off at 51.6 degrees, whereas Hubble reservicings need 28.5 degrees whilst others - [e.g Freestar at 39 degrees] use yet more orbital inclinations.)
SHUTTLE LANDINGS & RECOVERIES
A shuttle's earth-return is depicted here:
and its transportation via the B747 piggy-back technique here:
The Shuttle Schedule's WebSite.
is recommended by me, and others, for repeated visits for keeping up- to-date!! But note my warning about frustrating
amounts of delays!!
HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT NEWS - Registration
If you want NEWS automatically then you can REGISTER (Free!) with an EMail to
Majordomo@VESUVIUS.jsc.nasa.gov
or
majordomo@listserver.jsc.nasa.gov
and including
subscribe hsfnews
in your first line (of the message - NOT the title!). An almost immediate EMail will confirm your attempt and you will
be given an 'authorisation code' to edit into its re-submission! I found that an even
quicker response then signals your SUCCESS!
RUSSIA
Don't restrict yourself to looking into the USA programme, -
why not look at the
Baikonur Cosmodrome layout.
-- and follow interesting links from there!!
EMail (?) to:
Roy's Location.
Return to Roy's home page for full list of books and other writings either finished or under preparation.