The relief at Discovery's safe return underscores the problems with the space program.
The shuttle Discovery returned to Earth on Tuesday after a mission lasting 14 days and traversing 9.3 million kilometres. This awe-inspiring journey marked NASA's successful return to sending humans into space, the first such trip since the tragedy 2½ years ago when the shuttle Columbia disintegrated, killing seven crew. This week's landing, delayed and eventually rerouted because of poor weather, was appropriately low-key. There was none of the razzmatazz that so often accompanies US endeavours: the television images were sombre and the commentary quiet — a fitting reflection of the anxiety that had been a constant companion on this journey. The relief at Discovery's safe return underscores the problems with the space program. These craft are ageing — indeed, they are the equivalent of driving a 30-year-old car in space. Despite modifications to the external fuel tank, five large pieces of foam dislodged, awakening memories of Columbia and showing that a potentially fatal flaw had not been corrected, a matter that caused Australian astronaut Andy Thomas to question whether cost and scheduling pressures had exacerbated the situation.
NASA has ruled out further shuttles until the technical problem is solved. The hiatus gives time to reassess the global approach to space exploration. This new frontier will never be safely mastered with old technology, nor should it be the sole responsibility of NASA to determine future directions or carry the financial burden. Co-operative ventures, under the auspices of an international organisation, are essential if people are to benefit from the enormous investments in time and money that exploration demands. There is already a model to build on in the International Space Station, which is supported by the US, Russia and the European Space Agency and has provided for 108 astronauts in nearly seven years.
Three decades ago, following the success of Skylab, Isaac Asimov championed space travel as a continuation of the tradition of exploration that had fired human endeavour from time immemorial. The acclaimed science-fiction author wrote: "Confined to Earth, we have reached our limits. Furthermore, international co-operation must be made a reality. War must be abolished. This can only be done if we lose our localisms in a great, unifying project. Space offers the only such project." His was a grand vision — some would say an impossible dream — but in a world in which conflict is ever present, it is a dream worth embracing.