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Future of NASA: ISS/Shuttle Extension

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The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee has drawn up several alternate architectures for NASA to pursue its mission of sending astronauts beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). For a more complete summary, see “Future of NASA: Program of Record“. The fourth architecture in the list is ISS focused with additional Space Shuttle flights, assuming an increased budget of $3 billion per year. Of the options presented at the final public meeting and carried forward, this was studied in the least detail.

2010: The first commercial cargo deliveries to the International Space Station (ISS) begin.
2011: Space Shuttle flights continue at a reduced pace of one or two per year, delivering crews and supplies to ISS. Utilization of ISS for R&D increases.
2015: The Space Shuttle is retired.
2016: In June, a commercial crew transportation service to ISS becomes operational.
2020: ISS is retired in January. The budget provides funding for a propulsion module which will bring ISS to a controlled re-entry. Some of it will burn up in the atmosphere, the rest will be disposed of in the ocean.
2020s: A Shuttle-Derived Heavy-Lift (SDLV) launcher becomes operational, carrying cargo only.
2030s: Humans land on the Moon, spend a week on the surface, and return to Earth. Future missions may provide more mobility and equipment for longer stays.

References

“Integrated Options for Human Exploration Discussion“. Review of US Human Space Flight Plans Committee. 12 August 2009.
Ride, Sally; Crawley, Ed; Greason, Jeff; Behmuk, Bo. “Scenario Affordability Analysis“. Review of US Human Space Flight Plans Committee. 12 August 2009.

Future of NASA: ISS/Shuttle Extension

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