NASA still hopeful of May launch

Published: Jan 30, 2006
Source: www.al.com



Space agency veterans and outside space experts rarely agree on many issues surrounding NASA and the U.S. space program. But there is one constant piece of wisdom that comes out of their mouths often:

Space flight is not like riding a bicycle.

"It's just the very nature of the space program. Many people think launches and space flight should be like air travel or (driving) automobiles, meaning it should be relatively easy and certainly understood," said Dr. Ronald K. Olsen, a retired NASA inspector general who lives in Huntsville. "The first aircraft was built by a couple of guys in a bike shop. That's just not the way it is with the space program."continue..