Space Shuttle?

Question

How many successful Space Shuttle launches have been made? When will the next-generation Space Shuttle be introduced and how will it differ from the current-generation Space Shuutle?

Answer 1

There have been about 118 launches. All but two missions--the Challenger and Columbia tragedies.

There is no next-generation Shuttle under developmnt. Although NASA wanted to pursue such a project following the Columbia disaster, Congress and the Bush administration refused to fund this and mandated a low-cost "replacement. " This consists of a modified Solid Rocet Booster of the type used by the Shuttle with a second stage that uses an engine of the same type as the Shuttle. The space vehicle itself is an enlarged ad updated version of the 1960s Apollo capsule. Funding for developing this system was alocated by cancelling a number of future Shuttle missions.

A somewhat larger unmanned verion is also under development. In addition to supplying the International Space Station, these two vehiclees are proposed as a system to return men to the moon by 2020. This is no more than a proposal at this point, however, as no fuding has yet been appropriated.

Not surprisingly, the Bush administration does not have a lot of supporters among space enthusiasts--or (for this and other reasons) at NASA.

Answer 2

http://www.nasa.gov/
any information we could give you is there.