Science
Space shuttle Atlantis returns to Earth
NOT READY UNTIL 2015
The new ships also will enable NASA to fly astronauts to the moon and other destinations
in the solar system, in addition to the station. They will not be ready until 2015 at the earliest, however.
Until then, Russian, European and Japanese cargo ships will take over the job of flying food, fuel and supplies to the outpost, though none can handle the bulky station spare parts that fit in the shuttle cargo bay.
NASA also is hoping to turn over cargo deliveries and possibly crew transport to commercial U.S. companies.
Joining the six Atlantis astronauts for the ride back to Earth was space station flight engineer Nicole Stott, who has been aboard the outpost for three months. Stott is the last station crew member scheduled to catch a ride on the shuttle.
The Russian Soyuz capsule now becomes the station's exclusive taxi, a service that costs the United States about $50 million a seat.
The new ships also will enable NASA to fly astronauts to the moon and other destinations
in the solar system, in addition to the station. They will not be ready until 2015 at the earliest, however.Until then, Russian, European and Japanese cargo ships will take over the job of flying food, fuel and supplies to the outpost, though none can handle the bulky station spare parts that fit in the shuttle cargo bay.
NASA also is hoping to turn over cargo deliveries and possibly crew transport to commercial U.S. companies.
Joining the six Atlantis astronauts for the ride back to Earth was space station flight engineer Nicole Stott, who has been aboard the outpost for three months. Stott is the last station crew member scheduled to catch a ride on the shuttle.
The Russian Soyuz capsule now becomes the station's exclusive taxi, a service that costs the United States about $50 million a seat.
