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NASA has started to reduce experts in shuttles. / May 5, 2009 /

The American space agency has started reduction of employees which are engaged in service of shuttles, informs portal Space.com. The first 160 persons have been dismissed on Friday, on May, 1st, 2009. In total the agency plans to release more than 900 workplaces by September, 2009. The part from these people will be dismissed, and the part will be moved on other projects.

The most part reduced the first wave — the technical experts working on production associations of space agency in Utah and New Orleans. These people were engaged in assemblage of accelerators for space shuttles. According to representatives of agency, it is the first notable losses of capacities of the program of shuttles after decision-making on its end.

Let’s remind that now the American space agency plans to finish the program of shuttles by 2010. In total remains nine flights. Nearest of them, flight of a shuttle «Atlantis» for repairing of an orbital telescope «Hubble», is planned for May, 11th, 2009. We will remind that shuttle start was some times postponed.

According to Space.com, NASA plans to use the released resources for acceleration of working out of a spaceship «Orion». This device should come in the stead of shuttles. It is planned that it can deliver four astronauts to an orbit.

It is besides planned that «Orion» will be used for delivery of astronauts to the Moon. Also it was supposed that Americans will erect constant base on the terrestrial companion. However recently there were messages that NASA will refuse these plans.

Source: Lenta. Ru

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