But any rejoicing will probably be muted. The fact is that the shuttle has hurt the space science program. It contributed very little while it was flying, and the Challenger accident disrupted the space science program very badly. Payloads almost never flew when scheduled. In fact, no major scientific payloads were ever launched by the shuttle.
This isn't to say that we should never have built the shuttle. Unlike James Van Allen, I believe that manned space flight is essential for several reasons—to maintain public support, to perform certain servicing and repair functions in space, for exploration, and for science. The shuttle and the space station do have the potential to establish new and important fields, such as space biology and medicine, and materials processing in a microgravity environment.
Unfortunately, we are still a long way from realizing this potential. In the development of the shuttle and during its first ...
