The politics of the space shuttle, continued

Sooooo let's pick up where we left off.  With Nixon.

First, here is President Nixon's phone call to Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong after they walked on the Moon:  http://www.history.com/speeches/nixon-calls-apollo-11-astronauts#nixon-calls-apollo-11-astronauts

How did Nixon sound?  Excited?  Bored?  Do you think he sounds like he supports the space program?

Finally, read about President Nixon's decision-making at the beginning of The Space Shuttle Decision, Chapter 9 (please stop when you get to "Space Shuttle: The Last Moves").

1.  How did Nixon perceive astronauts?  Why?

2.  How did Nixon's public statements about space flight differ from Kennedy's?

3.  What priorities did Nixon have for the space program?

We have learned that the Shuttle suffered a couple of high-profile disasters.  The Challenger disaster in 1986 and the Columbia disaster in 2003, combined with the high expense of the shuttle program (the cost was about 20 times more than the estimates), served to bring the shuttle program to the end.

The Challenger was launched in cold weather, despite warnings from engineers that some valves were not rated to perform below 53 F.  It ignited during liftoff when a pocket of gases ignited in the booster and burned through to the main fuel area.  You can see the live coverage of what was supposed to be a routine launch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfnvFnzs91s

The Columbia's wing was thought to be damaged by falling thermal tiles during liftoff.  NASA command ignored several requests for astronauts on board to conduct a spacewalk to inspect the damage.  It disintegrated during reentry.  You can see news coverage of the disaster here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1_bdSKEG3s

The idea of the shuttle was to be a device to bring scores of astronauts to and from a space station.  The idea of the space station was the product of science fiction and antiquated technologies.  We pursued the shuttle's development long after the development of satellites that could automatically perform functions for a long time without maintenance.  Was it a mistake to build the shuttle?  Let's consider the accomplishments of the shuttle program.

First, the Hubble telescope was assembled in orbit.  The Hubble was heavy and complicated, and it took several missions to build, maintain, and repair.  This device has helped us to learn much about the universe.  Read about the telescope here: http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/hubble_essentials/

What can the Hubble do that observatories on Earth can't do?

What were some of the most important Hubble discoveries?

Second, the International Space Station was built.  The shuttle was instrumental for building and manning the station.  Read about the station here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/onthestation/facts_and_figures.html#.Uymm6ahdVyw

SOOOOOO.. what do you think?  Was the Shuttle program a mistake?  A failure?  A success?  Tomorrow you will be asked to give your opinion and support it with evidence in an essay.  For now, please give your preliminary thoughts on the survey here.