Why is NASA primarily using Discovery for shuttle flights since the Columbia Disaster?

Answer 1

Checking over some Wikipedia pages relating to the orbiters and the missions ...

Flights since the Columbia disaster:

STS-114 Discovery Launched 26 July 2005
STS-121 Discovery Launched 4 July 2006
STS-115 Atlantis Launched 9 September 2006
STS-116 Discovery Launched 9 December 2006
STS-117 Atlantis Launched 8 June 2007

There is also a mention that Atlantis was originally scheduled for STS-114 but a problem was discovered with the landing gear and so Discovery was moved in. Atlantis was then scheduled to fly STS-115. Discovery was assigned to STS-121 which ended up flying first because of the further work on the foam problem.

Endeavour was undergoing a major refit until October 2005. Discovery's last major refit was in 2002. Atlantis was scheduled for a major refit in 2008 but the plan now is to retire it then and use it as a source of spare parts for Discovery and Endeavour.

Answer 2

because they only have three orbiters left and one orbiter (Endeavor) has just had a major modification development to it's systems and such. so for a while after the Columbia accident, they've had the only options of using Discovery or Atlantis, but come STS-118 in August (which Endeavor will be flying), they will have the option of using Discovery, Atlantis, or Endeavor.

also, to the answerer above me, Space Shuttle Atlantis' last flight will be mission STS-125 (125th space shuttle flight) to service the Hubble Space Telescope some time in 2008, then it will be retired and NASA will have two orbiters on it's list.

Answer 3

I heard that NASA is planning to retire Atlantis quickly, because the start of the top for the holiday software. yet i theory they could a minimum of use mission some extra situations, because that's the newest, and probably the safest for that reason. that's outstanding that they used Discovery again, because there replaced into some issue the perfect time even as extra tiles fell off. It makes me imagine that NASA fairly might want to rotate using the shuttles for the perfect few years of this methodology, basically as yet another factor of precaution.

Answer 4

Discovery was used on STS-116. Atlantis is up in orbit now, on STS-117. The Endeavor will be flying on the next mission which is STS-118. They alternate between the 3 remaining shuttles.

Answer 5

Shuttle vehicles are constantly being upgraded for safety and ergonomic modifications, for example, new technology display and control systems. These modifications are expensive. I would surmise that Discovery is probably the one that has the most modernized improvements and is therefore used the most, since the crew (s) have been trained for use of the new systems.

Answer 6

Every year lots of people die in car accidents. Why do people continue using cars to drive around in since all of these accidents have happened? Duh.

There is a new design being readied for use as early as 2012, but it certainly isn't being built because of the Columbia Disaster.

Answer 7

Because that is the primary mission of Discovery.

Discovery is not a Space Ship designed to go long distances out into Space.

Answer 8

It's the last of the Shuttle "family"

Answer 9

Because so much money has been spent on it(Shuttle) and that accident was preventable.