Where are we going?

[Cthulhus]

Where are we going?

I am a bit lost with all the recent changes in the NASA's administration and with Obama last plans. I understand that the Ares project was abandoned, but why Lockheed Martin continues to work on Project Orion?

Someone can summarize the situation at NASA? In brief ...

• The future of the Space Shuttle ?
• How many Space Shuttle missions ?
• About the Nautilus-X ? How they bring it to space without the Shuttle?
• About the Orion?
• About the Moon and Beyond?

A can read a lot of information all over the Net and I'm getting lost... Where are we going for sure?

Thanks

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2011/0210_ss_orion.html

[Admin]

You forgot the "Landing a human on an Asteroid" mission 

YOU are lost??? I guess that about 500,000 people around NASA are lost too.

You're in good company, Cthulhus!

/Admin

[Cthulhus]

Yes I am, I just want a summery of the situation here...

Does the future of Space Exploration will be Chinese, Idian, Russian ?

 

[bjbeard]

In response..

1. Museum Artifacts
2. STS-134 is the last funded mission. Pre-planning for 135 is in work, but funding for it is not available.
3. N-X can be launched by Delta and Atlas rockets.
4. The Constellation version is dead, but it was resurrected in a "lite" version to resupply the ISS and some cargo.
5. All plans currently scrapped, other than robotic missions.

Basically manned spaceflight by anyone but the Russians is done after 134.

[spaceboy7441]

In response..

1. Museum Artifacts
2. STS-134 is the last funded mission. Pre-planning for 135 is in work, but funding for it is not available.
3. N-X can be launched by Delta and Atlas rockets.
4. The Constellation version is dead, but it was resurrected in a "lite" version to resupply the ISS and some cargo.
5. All plans currently scrapped, other than robotic missions.

Basically manned spaceflight by anyone but the Russians is done after 134.

Actually STS-135 will fly no matter what. It doesn't have official funding yet but NASA has said it will find the funding one way or another. So STS-135 is the final shuttle mission for sure now.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/02/nasa-insist-sts-135-will-fly-payload-options-assessment/

[bjbeard]

W00T!!!!

[Cthulhus]

Ok, cross fingers for STS135 !