🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <725748565snz@chrism.demon.co.uk> chris@chrism.demon.co.uk (Chris Marriott) writes:
>From: chris@chrism.demon.co.uk (Chris Marriott)
>Subject: How many flights are Orbiters designed for?
>Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 20:49:25 +0000
>What is the design lifetime of a shuttle orbiter?  ie, how many times is
>it designed to be reused?
>
>Chris
>-- 
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>| Chris Marriott                           | chris@chrism.demon.co.uk    |
>| Warrington, UK                           | BIX: cmarriott              |
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> 

I recall an estimate of 50 flights by a NASA spokesman. This may be a
realistic estimate, or it might be optimistic, it is unlikely to be a
pessimistic estimate. This number is consistent with the statement that
the last shuttle flight will occur in 2007. This statment appears to be
based on the following assumptions: 1) All future shuttle flights will be
successful. 2) The flight rate per year will be increased from three to
four flights per year per shuttle. 3) No further shuttles will be built.
4) The lifetime of a shuttle is 50 flights.