On Monday, June 21, 2010, John Glenn released an eight-page open letter expressing his concerns about the future of the American space program.
According to Glenn, the United States shouldn't retire its fleet of Space Shuttles but instead continue flying them. The shuttle fleet is scheduled to be fully retired either at the end of this year or early next year. When that happens, the United States will be left without its own source of travel to and from the International Space Station for a very long time.
Glenn believes that the current shuttles are capable of continuing space flight carrying American astronauts into space and delivering astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station rather than the United States relying on, and paying, the Soviet Union to perform those tasks. When the shuttle fleet retires, American astronauts will be hitching rides on the Soviet Soyuz for a fee. Glenn believes the United States will spend almost as much paying the Soviets as they would sending their own vessels into space.
Showing posts with label John Glenn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Glenn. Show all posts
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