Already missing the soon to be shelved Space Shuttle? You might not have to, with private contractor United Space Alliance considering a $US1.5 billion a year proposal to take the fleet private.
The deal – considered a major longshot – would take a lot of pressure off of Russia, upon whom the US will be temporarily depending to maintain the International Space Station in lieu of its own craft. “It is safe. We have a lot of history, we understand how to operate it,” explains United Space Alliance’s chief. We’re not so sure about that first part – since, you know, the shuttle is being retired in part because it’s sort of falling apart. What could go wrong? [USA Today]
Photo by Matthew Simantov