THIS WEEK WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (10:30 AM ET) - ABC February 2, 2003
IS THE COST TOO HIGH? A LOOK AT THE COST OF THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC NEWS
(Off Camera) The NASA shuttles have become the workhorse of the space program, transporting astronauts to and from the space station. But the flights are very expensive, which raises another question being asked this morning, are the costs of the shuttle worth the benefits? More on that from ABC's Ned Potter.
NED POTTER, ABC NEWS
(Voice Over) This is not the fateful last launch of Columbia, it's the first, back in 1981. Back then, NASA said the shuttle was filled with promise. With a reusable ship, space flight would be affordable, there might be 50 flights a year. Things did not turn out as expected. The shuttles were marvels of engineering but they were complicated and expensive. Shuttle flights cost three or $400 million. Old-fashioned rockets often cost less than a quarter as much. And now we have been reminded, yet again, of the danger.
JOHN PIKE, ABC NEWS CONSULTANT
There's simply no way that we can run a space program if every 50th mission is going to result in a loss of life and a loss of the orbiter.
NED POTTER
(Voice Over) But is that the end of it? NASA people point out that space travel has led to advances in medicine, technology, and basic science. CAT Scan, mammograms, even smoke detectors, all kinds of technology have been pushed along by the space program. The Hubble telescope has probed the origins of the universe and would not do it without shuttle astronauts to keep it working.
MILT HEFLIN, CHIEF FLIGHT DIRECTOR
When we have a bad day, we go fix it.
NED POTTER
(Voice Over) And over the years, polls have shown that Americans were in favor of the shuttle program. They often questioned the cost, but even after the Challenger tragedy, 83 percent said flights should continue.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES
Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.
NED POTTER
(Voice Over) But after the shock of yesterday's tragedy wears off, there may be a debate over that. Ned Potter, ABC News, New York.
Copyright © 2003, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
