UGL - We live the Unreal Life! - View Single Post

Doz · 05-04-2012, 06:05 PM

Company Building Mini-Shuttle To Launch From Space Coast

Sierra Nevada Hopes To Use Former Shuttle Workers In Private Sector Launch

COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- A company building a miniature space shuttle announced big plans for the Space Coast on Friday.The company, called Sierra Nevada, is already getting tens of millions of tax dollars to build the shuttle, and executives said they want former shuttle workers to help launch it.It will take about five years to build the miniature, which is about one-fifth the size of the original shuttle.Sierra Nevada released the first pictures on Friday of a prototype mini-space shuttle.Within a few months of production, the vehicle is set to make practice landing tests after being dropped from an airplane. When and if the company builds a space-worthy version, it will launch from the Space Coast."We'll need many of the same kinds of people, experiences, facilities that the shuttle needed," said Mark Sirangelo, of Sierra Nevada.The company wants to build a small fleet of mini-shuttles, employing several hundred former shuttle workers and making a small dent in the 8,000 laid off when NASA's shuttle was retired.At a kickoff event on Friday, state and local officials, including the lieutenant governor, promised to help make it happen."My personal hope is that we will be able to close an incentive package," said Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll.The Air Force has launched two unmanned mini-shuttles. One of them is in space right now on a secret mission.The Sierra Nevada version would carry seven astronauts and launch on top of an Atlas rocket, like the Air Force version. It could take private researchers into space and could fix or move satellites. But its main job would be to work for NASA, hauling astronauts to the space station for slightly less than the $65 million a seat we pay the Russians."We believe that the U.S. should fly U.S. astronauts on a U.S. vehicle built here, and we believe we want to take the 'Help Wanted' signs out of Russia and move them back to Florida," Sirangelo said.American taxpayers are investing $140 million in Sierra Nevada's mini-shuttle, part of initiative to turn over low-earth orbit spaceflight to the private sector.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/news/31011626/de...#ixzz1twelgq4F

05-04-2012, 06:05 PM	#13
Doz Maniac Drummer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 3,019	Company Building Mini-Shuttle To Launch From Space Coast *Sierra Nevada Hopes To Use Former Shuttle Workers In Private Sector Launch* COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- A company building a miniature space shuttle announced big plans for the Space Coast on Friday.The company, called Sierra Nevada, is already getting tens of millions of tax dollars to build the shuttle, and executives said they want former shuttle workers to help launch it.It will take about five years to build the miniature, which is about one-fifth the size of the original shuttle.Sierra Nevada released the first pictures on Friday of a prototype mini-space shuttle.Within a few months of production, the vehicle is set to make practice landing tests after being dropped from an airplane. When and if the company builds a space-worthy version, it will launch from the Space Coast."We'll need many of the same kinds of people, experiences, facilities that the shuttle needed," said Mark Sirangelo, of Sierra Nevada.The company wants to build a small fleet of mini-shuttles, employing several hundred former shuttle workers and making a small dent in the 8,000 laid off when NASA's shuttle was retired.At a kickoff event on Friday, state and local officials, including the lieutenant governor, promised to help make it happen."My personal hope is that we will be able to close an incentive package," said Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll.The Air Force has launched two unmanned mini-shuttles. One of them is in space right now on a secret mission.The Sierra Nevada version would carry seven astronauts and launch on top of an Atlas rocket, like the Air Force version. It could take private researchers into space and could fix or move satellites. But its main job would be to work for NASA, hauling astronauts to the space station for slightly less than the $65 million a seat we pay the Russians."We believe that the U.S. should fly U.S. astronauts on a U.S. vehicle built here, and we believe we want to take the 'Help Wanted' signs out of Russia and move them back to Florida," Sirangelo said.American taxpayers are investing $140 million in Sierra Nevada's mini-shuttle, part of initiative to turn over low-earth orbit spaceflight to the private sector. Read more: http://www.wesh.com/news/31011626/de...#ixzz1twelgq4F __________________ I am a USAF Veteran and LoveUSA