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From: DENNETT@SRI-NIC.ARPA (Steve Dennett)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Future of the Space Program
Message-ID: <12178969201.19.DENNETT@SRI-NIC.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 28-Jan-86 20:55:56 EST
Article-I.D.: SRI-NIC.12178969201.19.DENNETT
Posted: Tue Jan 28 20:55:56 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Jan-86 05:43:43 EST
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Organization: The ARPA Internet
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The shuttle tragedy has raised some questions (in my mind) about the
shuttle, and the effect this disaster will have on the space program.
Perhaps the readers of this digest will have some answers or speculation on
these questions.

- What kind of escape mechanism (if any) does the shuttle have for the crew?

- Will this be a setback for the space program, due to public disapproval
  or the government's need to find (and punish) someone?

- Alternately, might it lead to *greater* support of the space program
  (e.g., if NASA presents a case along the lines of "If our budget were
  larger, this wouldn't have happened.")?

- Might this redirect (to some extent) the focus of the manned space
  program away from the shuttle (large, complex) back toward simpler or
  alternative launch systems?


  Steve Dennett
  dennett@sri-nic.arpa
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