The last launch and trip by a US space shuttle is scheduled by NASA for February 3, 2011 -- after which the entire fleet will be mothballed or disassembled. No new astronaut launches are scheduled for the next 3 years and beyond ( see www.nasa.gov/missions/calendar/index.html) And there is no sign of the 'replacement' ship' debated since 2004. Supposedly, money and the high cost of the shuttle-like missions is to blame.
The US will, for the foreseeable future, rely on Soviet rocket missions to the International Space Station -- for supplies, crew replacement and equipment delivery. NASA, instead, has been given orders to focus on one way only missions to outer space -- other planets, asteroids or moons --using cheap miniature spacecraft, land rovers and robots.
Meanwhile, China has accellerated its own space program. Since 2003, 6 Chinese austronauts have gone safely into space, and in 2008 Chinese austronauts worked outside of their spacecraft for the first time. According to western reports in 2006 and, official Chinese government statements again this year, a moon landing is the next goal!
With Russia weakened by the collapse of the USSR and relying on old technology, and with the abandonment of human spaceship program by the USA, look for China to soon be our planet's 'face to the universe'!
I am sure President Kennedy -- if he were still alive -- would be apoplectic.
The next flag on the moon and beyond will have stars on it -- but only 5 on a red background!
And say goodbye to any hope of a USS Star Ship Enterprise!
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