From symbol to nostalgia

 

Space shuttle Endeavour (STS-127) lifts off on 15 July 2009. Credit: Marie-Ange Sanguy

According to the current space shuttle flight schedule, the last of NASA’s space plane missions is slated for September 2010. There is no doubt that the ultimate blast-off of an STS mission (in this instance STS-133 to the ISS) will attract large numbers of space fans and onlookers as well as ordinary tourists to Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.
This turning point in the American human space flight programme will have a significant impact on the State of Florida due to the loss of jobs caused by the stopping of the space shuttles. Moreover, certain eminent politicians from the “sunshine state” are even making a plea in the hope that the American Congress and the White House agree to vote the budgets required for several additional flights in order to lessen what they describe as an economic earthquake.

United Space Alliance (USA) is one of NASA’s major private industrial partners. It was initially founded by Boeing and Lockheed Martin to unite the majority of the supply and service contracts linked to the space shuttle in one economic unit. Sign of the times, this company’s current logo no longer includes a picture of the space plane as it once did. Credit: DR

Considerable indirect consequences are also highlighted as professionals from the tourism industry fear a drop in the number of visitors to the Space Center’s Visitor Complex (the part that is open to the public), and therefore less consumers in the hotels and shops situated along the “space coast”. For the shopkeepers, the stream of people that come to watch a launch results in additional, far from negligible, revenue. An effect that is even felt by the service stations which have excellent takings from their petrol sales on such days! The stopping of the space shuttles will also mean less tax revenue for the State of Florida...
Another not so major, but very real consequence is that of the future of the numerous symbols and logos that proudly display the space shuttle. The town of Titusville, close to NASA’s Center, has integrated a space shuttle blasting off into its official logo (opposite). Members of the town council are said to be ready for all eventualities, but are waiting to see what the new symbol of the United States’ flight to the stars might be (the Orion capsule, a future heavy launch vehicle, the next lunar modules?) before making any changes as modifying the official Titusville seal will mean a fairly substantial outlay... Just think of all the different letter headings, signals and panels that will have to be redone!
Symbol of the future, the space shuttle is proudly displayed by a variety of shops along the space coast, including one McDonald’s that has a children’s play area containing a dummy space plane.

This full-scale model of the Orion capsule is on show in the Visitor Complex; will it become the new symbol of the future just as the space shuttle once was? Aesthetically speaking, the spacecraft does not have the same appeal as the space plane. Credit: Marie-Ange Sanguy

The Kennedy Center’s Visitor Complex (managed by the Delaware North Companies, a private firm) had even invested 60 million dollars in the Space Shuttle Launch Experience attraction which was opened in 2007. This attraction enables visitors to experience the sensations of a space shuttle blast-off. Given such an investment, this simulation will survive the stopping of the actual space shuttles and will become a historic reminder, tinged with nostalgia.

Due to its 60 million dollar set-up costs, the Shuttle Launch Experience attraction in the Kennedy Space Center’s Visitor Complex will probably not shut down when the space shuttles stop. From an explanation of the latest in the American human space flight programme, it will become a historic reminder. Credit: Marie-Ange Sanguy

A nostalgia that could well be a solution for many, the space shuttle having literally invaded the American everyday way of life. One example is the lorry rental company “U-Haul” which has decorated the majority of its fleet in Florida with logos featuring the space plane. And that is without counting the endless souvenirs and gadgets (pens, T-shirts, models, paperweights, earrings, etc.) still produced and sold in great quantities.

In Florida, the fleet of lorries belonging to the rental company “U-Haul” is decorated with artwork based on the space shuttle. Credit: Olivier Sanguy

Even with the final shutdown of the STS programme (whether it happens in 2010 or a little later if the White House goes along with the principle of a few additional flights), space shuttles will be around for a very long time, changing from the symbol of the future to the status of nostalgia for what we hope will be a better future before finally becoming part of history, a bit like Apollo in its time.

Published on 4 January 2010