Shuttle Grounded Till 2005; NASA Plans a Standby Craft

NASA said Thursday that the space shuttle will remain grounded until next year, and once launches resume, a second spaceship will be on standby to rescue the astronauts if their craft is damaged in flight.

Because of the Columbia disaster a year ago, NASA decided in January that all shuttles in the future will be devoted to completing the international space station. That way, the astronauts can inspect and repair their ships at the orbiting outpost and await rescue there if the damage is severe.

The rescue shuttle will not necessarily be on the launchpad but will be ready to fly to the space station in 45 to 90 days, NASA’s Bill Parsons said. That is how long seven additional astronauts could remain aboard the space station before supplies ran out.