“NASA weigh plan to keep space shuttle awaiting to 2017”

NASA is considering a preparation to keep the space shuttle Endeavor in flight like state after its last scheduled mission, a move that could lead to its transformation into a privatized spaceship rather than a museum piece. 

Endeavor’s continued operation through 2017 is component of a proposal that could receive millions of $ in development funds from the space agency next month.
The proposal called “Commercial Space Transportation Service”, or “CSTS “would use Endeavor as well as a sister shuttle, Atlantis, to fly 2 missions a year from 2013 to 2017 at an annual cost of $1.5 billion. United Space Alliance, the contractor that now manages the shuttle program on NASA’s behalf, has offered the proposal for the 2^nd round of funding since the space agency’s Commercial Crew Development initiative, also known as CC Dev 2.

NASA could award as much as $200 million in the second round of the CCDev initiative. Throughout the first round, the agency distributed $50 million in stimulus funds to 5 companies to advance the development of crew capable replacements designed for the shuttles.
Some of the recipients of first-round funding, such as the Boeing Co. and Sierra Nevada Corp, have prepared proposals for second-round funding as well. The 2^nd round competitors also include Space X and Orbital Sciences, which are already getting NASA funds to build spacecraft for transporting cargo to the space station.

United Space Alliance is the only venture proposing to keep the shuttles operating rather than retiring them this year, as presently planned.

When asked about the USA plan, NASA spokesman Michael Curie said in an e mailed response that the space agency would not "comment at this time on proposals received as part of CCDev 2."

While the CCDev 2 result is pending, NASA has determined to study the option of keeping Endeavor in a flight like condition at one of Kennedy Space Center’s 3 Orbiter Processing Facilities, according to documents obtained by {wt}. This study is to examine what personnel and funding would be needed to retain Endeavor instead of giving it up.

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