Commercial Shuttle

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The Shuttle intriguing candidate for Commercialization
Posted on November 15, 2011 by Bob
The system is presently operational. Its payload to orbit delivery and other capabilities are well documented. Its risks are known and assessable for payload insurance and crew satety considerations and industrial elements arre already doing much of the work in many areas. Bailing. leasing and/or other type of agreement for use of government equipment (orbiters, pads, control centers, etc.) is probably feasible in some arrangement. Needed is an industry, NASA government, Congressional meeting of the minds on all related elements including government flight requirements, (e.g. ISS servicing) and commercial pricing policies. If such a government hand off to industry could be affected it would, of course , keep the shuttle program available for another decade or two should presently unforeseen government needs arise.
U. S. Taxpayers Have Not Yet Realized Their Full Return on Investment from the Shuttle system.

Works as promised
Much life remaining
Man rated and safe–probably as safe as any manned system will be—-no others will get over one hundred flights down the learning curve.
Infrastructure is in place and operational

Replacement of the Orbiter capabilities will take decades and billions.

Decommissioning the Space Shuttle should be postponed indefinitely.

The above is an excerpt from On the Early Retirement of the Space Shuttle by George Jeffs.
Editor’s note: Mr. Cain, Government and Industry can work together and get the Shuttle flying Again. Please discuss with Mr. Jeffs former president of S&EO at Rockwell International.

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