The members of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) have issued its 2009 annual report on the U. S. space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The ASAP report reveals that continuing the NASA space shuttle fleet beyond the current manifest is "ill-advised".

According to ASAP chair Joseph W. Dyer, as stated within the NASA article, "The panel's report provides a summary of key safety-related issues the agency confronts at this time. The most important relate to the future of the nation's human spaceflight program".

The Annual Report stated by the NASA article cited three important findings. The first is "No manufacturer of Commercial Orbital Transportation Services is currently qualified for human-rating requirements, despite some claims and beliefs to the contrary".

Also, "To abandon the program of record as a baseline for an alternative without demonstrated capability or proven superiority is unwise and probably not cost-effective."

And the last, but not the least, the Space Shuttle Program which states, "Extension of the shuttle program significantly beyond the current manifest would be ill-advised. The panel is concerned about discussions regarding possible extension of shuttle operations".

Additional information can be fetched from the SpaceRef. com article "NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Releases Annual Report".