Week In Space

Listen Now: http://www.thisweekinspace.com/programs/thisweekinspace_031107.mp3 

Atlantis rolls back to the Vehicle Assembly buliding for hal damage repairs; April or May launch seems likely. The first USAF Atlas EELV mission was successfully launched by United Launch Alliance and placed six experimental satellites into orbit. Construction of the South American Soyuz launch complex got underway at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. Astronaut Lisa Nowak was dismissed by NASA and has returned to the Navy for future administrative actions.

In commentary this week, we take a look at the various alternative proposals that have been made to the Ares laujnch vehicles now being designed by NASA. We look at why this is not the time for new proposals and the risk that these might be undermining NASA’s effort. We also look at the linkage between the success or failure of NASA to meet the goals of the Vision for Space Exploration and the success of the startup companies in the New Space industry.