The Wall Street Journal is reporting this morning that an internal National Aeronautics and Space Administration study projects that extending the space shuttle program until 2015 would cost up to an additional $13 billion and could increase the chances of accidents with astronauts aboard. Findings of the study, which has not yet been released, are likely to be discussed during a NASA briefing on 4 PM ET (today) Wednesday. The new NASA report stresses the perils involved in delaying retirement of the shuttle. Continuing shuttle launches to the International Space Station through 2015 would add as many as 15 flights and raise the "cumulative risk" of an accident to "1 in 3.2" missions, the study says. While the risks for a particular flight won't increase, according to the study, overall risks of malfunctions, collisions with space debris and other problems increase with the number of flights.
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