What Next for NASA

Publication Date: April 1986

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Milton R. Copulos

Research Area: Science and technology

Keywords: Regulation

Type: Report

Abstract:

The January 28th explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle and the death of its seven-member crew dealt the U.S. space program the most serious setback in its quarter-century history. The Challenger tragedy was America's first in-flight loss of life. It destroyed one-fourth of the Space Shuttle fleet. And it grounded Challenger's sister spacecraft. Despite this, there has been a remarkable declaration of national resolve not to allow the disaster to block America's future in space. But admirable though this expression of national will certainly is, more than money and a ''can do" attitude is needed to get the space program back on course.