Traffic Jams in Space
By Michael Neale
NASA recently avoided a traffic jam in space. The Endeavour shuttle launch to the ISS was postponed, because a Russian cargo ship was scheduled to arrive during the same time. It is not really turn point news in the timeline of space development, but I cannot help feel a tinge of excitement as things like this start happening.
Normally our space faring fantasies spotlight landing people on Mars, building an orbital hotel, colonizing the moon, melting the ice of Europa… But these are the glamorous milestones. Though it is enjoyable and important to entertain these ambitions, we will first need to face a few prickly milestones. Space traffic jams aren’t something we aim to achieve, but if it is a problem, we know we are moving in the right direction.
“Houston, we have a traffic jam at the space station…” I would love such problems to exist.
Article of NASA avoiding the traffic jam: http://www.space.com/11289-nasa-space-shuttle-endeavour-launch-delays.html