Is the space shuttle safe

"The Great Space Shuttle Debate - is the Orbiter Safe?" Popular Mechanics. June 2005. 12 Dec. 2006
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/1565327.html

I just read an article from Popular Mechanics on the issue of continuing to use the space shuttle until the 2010 retirement deadline. The article asked two separate experts with opposite views about the issue. One expert believes it should be retired now and the other believes we should continue to use it.

The person who is for the early retirement of the space shuttle talks about the danger and the cost. They state that the cost of the space shuttle has been too high from the beginning. He says that each launch is grossly more than what NASA’s budget was. They also talk about the danger of the space shuttle. They point out that the death rate of the space shuttle is one dead per every launch.

“ If NASA will not abandon the space station, there is an alternative to manned shuttle flights. A compromise would be to send people up on Russian spacecraft. NASA could engineer an unmanned shuttle to fly cargo to the station, and have the astronauts meet the components there for installation. It would be much cheaper since the shuttle wouldn't have to be made safe enough for human passengers. Russia has charged two civilians $20 million apiece to go up in its spacecraft--a piddling amount when a manned shuttle launch costs half a billion. (2)"

The quote shows what he believes to be the compromise. Send robots in the space shuttle. and send our people on the Russian space vehicles. He believes this will be cheaper and safer for NASA.

The other experts view was to continue to use the space shuttle. He is an astronaut himself and was on the international space station at the time of the Discovery disaster. He states that going to the ISS is important to research and our space program. The only vehicle in our fleet that can send humans to the ISS is the space shuttle.

“ Is the space shuttle both risky and costly? You bet. We will never fly without risk, even though NASA spends a lot of money minimizing it. For months before I board a shuttle, I ask myself, "Why am I really doing this? Is it worth the risk that my children may be without a dad?" And I say yes. (4)"

He is a astronaut himself and has been on the space shuttle. In addition, he believes that the risk is acceptable. He believes that NASA does all it can to minimize the risk. He believes that the risk is acceptable.

I believe that both of them have valid points and both options should be considered for use.

Questions:
1. Has NASA made a decision on whether to send the space shuttle?
2. What are the advances that the CEV has over the space shuttle?