Broken Wings - Astronauts Missing Out on Space Travel
Mar 23, 2005 08: 39 EST
The window of opportunity is closing for many of the nation’s astronauts who haven’t gotten a chance to go to space. With NASA set to phase out the shuttle program in five years, and all flights grounded since the 2003 Columbia disaster, the 46 astronauts who haven’t been to space are running out of chances.
The Cusp of Change
The latest classes of astronauts have known all along that they were on the cusp of change between the NASA shuttle program and next generation space travel. As astronaut George Zamka explains, “[The astronauts] knew very well that they arrived at the sunset of the shuttle and the dawn of the new vehicle and they may be exposed to the gap in between the two.” Zamka has been an astronaut for almost seven years, and has yet gotten an opportunity to experience space travel.
Crossing their fingers
For now, the space-less astronauts will have to content themselves with shuttle improvements, preparations, and other non-flight duties. Oh yeah, and crossing their fingers in hope to get on one of the remaining shuttle flights. However, Veterans like Zamka still have reason keep their dreams alive. They just have to remember Story Musgrave, who became an astronaut in 1967, but didn’t go to space until 1983!
Discovery is the next shuttle scheduled to launch. The target date for that flight is in May. Photo of George Zamka courtesy of NASA.
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