[Starting December 26, Headline News Space Science and Technology Correspondent Allard Beutel looks at the technological vision put forth by Kubrick and co-screenwriter Sir Arthur Clarke. In a five-part series called,] 2001: A Space Prophecy, ... 2001. |
All I can tell you is it that it will have an impact. But how much of an impact, we just don't know yet. We're in the early stages of trying to figure all that out. |
If, and only if, our further testing and analysis supports flying without a PAL ramp is aerodynamically alright to do, as our preliminary analysis indicates it would be, then the May launch window is still possible to make. If our new testing and analysis indicates we need the PAL ramp, we'll stop our shuttle processing, reassess and work the issue from there. |
It's like shuffling parking spaces in your driveway. |
It's not a matter of people not wanting to talk to each other. Each group is doing its own piece of the pie, serving the public. It's been a process, and a process takes time. |
One step at a time. |
Overall, as a class, they will not be shuttle astronauts. They will be space station astronauts, testing and flying whatever is the new exploration vehicle. |
That's how they've chosen to exercise their resources. We're not allowed to do it at NASA. |
The data from the ongoing engineering analysis on the PAL ramp seems to be pointing in the direction of not flying with the PAL ramp for STS-121. |
The program is being logical and looking at what can be done. |
They're redundant in some degree but not entirely. |
They've had a couple more months to work this and after studying this problem up and down the chain they are thinking that the PAL ramp removal is more feasible than they did just a couple of months ago. |
We are looking at that — what can we do for people who had homes nearby, who want to work but don't have a home to go back to at night. |
We just don't know what kind of impact this is going to have on our schedules. |
We know there is going to be a schedule impact, ... We don't know what that's going to be yet. |