Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ncrlnk!ncr-sd!hp-sdd!hplabs!hpda!hpcuhb!hpindda!mears From: mears@hpindda.HP.COM (David B. Mears) Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle Subject: Re: New Topic Message-ID: <3330014@hpindda.HP.COM> Date: 21 Nov 88 22:44:28 GMT References: Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA Lines: 35 > / hpindda:sci.space.shuttle / pv04+@andrew.cmu.edu (Philip Verdieck) / 8:57 pm Nov 18, 1988 / > > While we sit back, discussing the space shuttles, and in particular > when will our be up, and how often, there is one totally ignored > topic so far. How many more time can we do it. Not because of mechanical > problems, but a limit on supplies. > > Do you realize that as things stand NASA has only supplies for 20 more > launches? > > A week or two ago a critical booster supplier went out of business. > A West Virginia chemical/plastic/whatever firm that bellied up is > the ONLY SUPPLIER OF RAYON!!! > > I think that is the term. What I am referring to is a critical part of > the boosters nozzle, or something. Due to economic and environmental > problems this firmed sucked suds in early November. They are the sole > supplier of this needed component. > > Now this is a topic for conversation.... > ---------- I had thought it was more than two weeks ago that the company suddenly and inexplicably went out of business. I also remember reading within the last couple of weeks that the company, just as suddenly and inexplicably, decided to go back into business again. The whole thing seems rather strange that we haven't heard any more about a situation that puts the continuance of the US space program in jeopardy. Or do you have any later information than what I've retold here? David B. Mears Hewlett-Packard Cupertino CA hplabs!hpda!mears