In the World

NASA is being awfully ambitious this spring.

In case you don’t know, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (you know, the folks who managed to beat the Soviets to the Moon more than a generation ago) is under a deadline to get the next generation of manned space exploration under way.

This means retiring the existing “bricks with wings” by 2010 (under the current plan). NASA is nowhere near having anything else ready to fly, so they’re fast-tracking shuttle launches to try and get as much done as they can in the time they have left.

I’m taking my daughter to DisneyWorld in May, specifically to coincide with the launch week of Shuttle missions STS-125 and STS-127. In a first for NASA, Atlantis and Endeavour are both scheduled for launch the week of May 10. meaning we’re going to two-thirds of Earth’s manned spacecraft fleet (not counting the Daedalus-class ships, of course, or the F-309 squadrons). I’ve always wanted to see a shuttle launch, and now I’ll have the chance to see two in the same week.

I think, though, that NASA may be putting two birds in the air at the same time for a different reason. But that’s just me. Given NASA’s recent track record, I’m not sure they’ll be able to pull it off. But I wish them the best in trying.

Still, I’m looking forward to it. The Space Shuttle is the most advanced space vehicle we have (which, admittedly, is kinda sad), and it’ll be nice to see them in action.

At least until we get around to building real starships, that is.