The United States' three-ship space shuttle fleet faces "significant challenges" in its future orbiter work, the U.S. government has warned.
The Government Accountability Office told Congress that completing construction and continuing operation of the $31 billion International Space Station raised the possibility of severe cutbacks, the Houston Chronicle reported from Washington.
Cristina Chaplain of Congress' watchdog agency told a House of Representatives aeronautics subcommittee that NASA must overcome immense odds to complete assembly of the space station on time. Eight shuttle missions are scheduled before the fleet's retirement in 2010.
Related Links
Shuttle at NASA
Watch NASA TV via Space.TV
Space Shuttle News at Space-Travel.Com
Hope Takes Flight On Shuttle Discovery
Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Apr 17, 2008
The cargo aboard the space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-124 already has traveled halfway around Earth, more than 10,000 miles over land and sea. It's now ready for the culmination of its 23-year journey to the International Space Station.
