CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A trip to the Moon or Mars would have greater appeal than orbiting the Earth in Space Station Alpha, said shuttle Atlantis astronauts who will launch to the outpost in mid-July.
"When you're going someplace, someplace new, that's a big deal," said astronaut James Reilly, who is scheduled to make three spacewalks during the mission.
The Atlantis crew discussed the International Space Station during interviews Monday. Their comments ranged from pride in the technical difficulties overcome by program officials, to a desire to get Americans excited about space travel.
Stressing the space station's enormous technical challenges, Atlantis crewmembers said critics should try harder to understand the work that went into the station.
"The critics aren't experts in making this work," said Michael Gernhardt, who also will walk in space. "This is the first time we've ever approached construction in space of this magnitude. Working on the technical level, I think we're doing it right. If it's a little over budget, that's probably part of doing something new and doing something for the first time."
Charles Hobaugh, pilot of Atlantis, said the astronaut corps does not take criticism of the space station management personally, but is eager to perform the assigned job. "We don't get involved in the politics of it, our job is more to execute," Hobaugh said.
But astronaut Janet Kavandi, who will operate the shuttle arm during this mission, said the questions overlook the thrill and adventure of space travel.
"I wish people could be as excited about it as we were in the 60's when it was new, but of course you can't keep that," she said. "I hope we go back to the Moon and Mars, I think that would help a lot."
That desire echoes the thoughts of Bill Shepherd, Space Station Alpha's first commander. With his four-month mission behind him, Shepherd said it was time to move out of Earth's orbit and on to Mars.
The space station program has come under scrutiny lately because of a $4 billion cost overrun. Two recent government reports, and an investigation into the budget problems by FLORIDA TODAY cited poor management at the agency.
Shuttle Atlantis is to embark on its mission to the space station July 12. It will carry a $164 million payload that includes an airlock, which allows astronauts and cosmonauts transition from the pressurized environment of the station to the vacuum of space.
The mission includes three spacewalks and maneuvers using both the station and shuttle robotic arms. The voyage will be commanded by Steven Lindsey.
The views also reflected a greater desire to travel to distant planets rather than simply orbiting the Earth in a large laboratory.
The station "isn't quite the same as an exploration project," Reilly said. "Going to the Moon, going to Mars for the first time, everybody can identify with that. It's a lot harder to identify with a space station. It doesn't fire the imagination as much."
Published under license from FLORIDA TODAY. Copyright © 2001 FLORIDA TODAY. No portion of this material may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of FLORIDA TODAY.
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