Danger money

Tight NASA budgets threaten the safety of the space shuttle and the International Space Station, an independent safety panel warns. NASA designed each shuttle to operate for 10 years or 100 missions. Although the flight schedule has been sharply reduced, the shuttles are now going to be used for at least 30 years. That will only be possible with continual updates and improvements. But tight budgets and a concentration on short-term survival of programmes are preventing the long-term planning needed to ensure safety, a report by the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel claims.