As the nation prepares for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20, the U.S. space agency is in a state of disarray as the current generation of space shuttles will be retired next year. NASA wants to return to the moon by 2020, and a new shuttle is absolutely vital for that mission to take place.
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said it would cost NASA $3 billion per year to keep the aging shuttle in orbit after 2010. Along with an extremely high maintenance cost, there also is an increased chance of an air accident flying on the older shuttles.
http://www.dailytech.com/NASA+Consid...ticle13899.htm
NASA Considers Cost of Keeping Shuttle, Developing Next Generation
12th January 2009, 01:29
NASA Considers Cost of Keeping Shuttle, Developing Next Generation 
