--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's unfortunate, but I know it's the…" description: "\"It's unfortunate, but I know it's the right thing to do to end the shuttle program. If we want to do other things, we need a different spacecraft.\" — S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/shannon-walker-11423_end_it-s-unfortunate-but-i-know-it-s-the-rig_945791.jpg" --- # It's unfortunate, but I know it's the right thing to do to… ![“It's unfortunate, but I know it's the right thing to do to end the shuttle program. If we want to do other things, we need a different spacecraft.” quote by Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/shannon-walker-11423_end_it-s-unfortunate-but-i-know-it-s-the-rig_945791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/shannon-walker-11423_end_it-s-unfortunate-but-i-know-it-s-the-rig_945791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/shannon-walker-11423_end_it-s-unfortunate-but-i-know-it-s-the-rig_945791.jpg) > “It's unfortunate, but I know it's the right thing to do to end the shuttle program. If we want to do other things, we need a different spacecraft.” [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ending the shuttle program is necessary to develop new spacecraft for future missions. **In simple terms:** Shuttle ends, new craft needed. Key Takeaway Support innovation over legacy. Themes space technology progress Mood determined strategic Type technical policy When to use this quote - NASA budgeting - mission planning - technology development Key Concepts policy innovation risk management Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives can bridge the gap? - How to manage workforce impacts? A Different Perspective Transition may cause temporary setbacks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Different Spacecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-spacecraft-1650384/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [End Shuttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-shuttle-1650383/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Shuttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shuttle/) [Shuttle program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shuttle-program/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Spacecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spacecraft/) [The right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-right-thing/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) ## Related quotes > [The vast majority of the shuttle program was a success. We learned so much about how a reusable spacecraft interacts with its environment, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-collins/the-vast-majority-of-the-shuttle-program-was-a-success-we-learned-so/) [Eileen Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-collins/) > [The United States ended the space shuttle program in 2011, after the ISS was complete. We gave up a national treasure forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/the-united-states-ended-the-space-shuttle-program-in-2011-after-the/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I think both the space shuttle program and the International Space Station program have not really lived up to their expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-think-both-the-space-shuttle-program-and-the-international-space/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [Having three operational vehicles in the fleet affords the shuttle program great schedule flexibility as we move toward flying safely and completing the international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-hale/having-three-operational-vehicles-in-the-fleet-affords-the-shuttle/) [Wayne Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-hale/) > [It's pretty amazing to me that we have had a space shuttle program that's lasted for 30 years - for one space shuttle. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/it-s-pretty-amazing-to-me-that-we-have-had-a-space-shuttle-program/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [When I was in high school we had the first shuttle launch, and it reinvigorated my enthusiasm for the space program. I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/when-i-was-in-high-school-we-had-the-first-shuttle-launch-and-it/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [Instead of planning the retirement of the Space Shuttle program, America should be preparing the shuttles for their next step in space: evolving, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/instead-of-planning-the-retirement-of-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [The thing I'll remember most about the flight is that it was fun. In fact, I'm sure it was the most fun that I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/the-thing-i-ll-remember-most-about-the-flight-is-that-it-was-fun-in/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [ In the space shuttle program, where we had males and females, I can tell you that nobody was doing that \[sex\] because there's absolutely… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mullane/in-the-space-shuttle-program-where-we-had-males-and-females-i-can/) [Mike Mullane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mullane/) > [We're going to go to the moon. We're going to go on to Mars. We're going to set up a base on the moon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/we-re-going-to-go-to-the-moon-we-re-going-to-go-on-to-mars-we-re/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [The missing toothbrush was nothing compared with the fact that the spacecraft was orientated to ascend, not descend. I would have gone up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentina-tereshkova/the-missing-toothbrush-was-nothing-compared-with-the-fact-that-the/) [Valentina Tereshkova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentina-tereshkova/) > [I would send the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach into outer space on the Voyager spacecraft. But that would be boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/i-would-send-the-complete-works-of-johann-sebastian-bach-into-outer/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Obviously you're looking out the window and you're seeing Earth and that's moving and then you're in a spacecraft now that can move on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-isaacman/obviously-you-re-looking-out-the-window-and-you-re-seeing-earth-and/) [Jared Isaacman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-isaacman/) > [Man is the best computer we can put aboard a spacecraft, and the only one that can be mass produced with unskilled labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-von-braun/man-is-the-best-computer-we-can-put-aboard-a-spacecraft-and-the-only/) [Werner Von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-von-braun/) ## More by Shannon Walker > [The Soyuz is probably only slightly smaller than the Dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/the-soyuz-is-probably-only-slightly-smaller-than-the-dragon/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [I wanted to become an astronaut because I believe that the exploration of space by humans is extremely important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/i-wanted-to-become-an-astronaut-because-i-believe-that-the/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [Most of my family and friends are very familiar with the human space flight program and with the excitement of becoming an astronaut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/most-of-my-family-and-friends-are-very-familiar-with-the-human-space/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [I don't really have a lot of anxieties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/i-don-t-really-have-a-lot-of-anxieties/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [Houston's a very big town. It's changed a lot over my lifetime, it's quite a bit bigger now than it was when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/houston-s-a-very-big-town-it-s-changed-a-lot-over-my-lifetime-it-s/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [I think one of the ways that we can fight against climate change is keep showing what we're doing to the planet, and we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/i-think-one-of-the-ways-that-we-can-fight-against-climate-change-is/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [One thing I really like about flying is that it is an activity that my mother and I can do together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/one-thing-i-really-like-about-flying-is-that-it-is-an-activity-that/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [When I was in high school we had the first shuttle launch, and it reinvigorated my enthusiasm for the space program. I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/when-i-was-in-high-school-we-had-the-first-shuttle-launch-and-it/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [I'm one who likes to eat regularly, so not being able to eat for eight hours makes me a little cranky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/i-m-one-who-likes-to-eat-regularly-so-not-being-able-to-eat-for-eight/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [I was having a hard time getting interest from future employers because of my physics background. It seemed all anyone wanted was engineers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/i-was-having-a-hard-time-getting-interest-from-future-employers/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [When your flying in a jet aircraft, everything goes much faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/when-your-flying-in-a-jet-aircraft-everything-goes-much-faster/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [I can talk about casting a ballot from space since I did it last time I was on the space station. They basically send…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/i-can-talk-about-casting-a-ballot-from-space-since-i-did-it-last-time/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [During and after college, I did a lot of biking and bike touring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/during-and-after-college-i-did-a-lot-of-biking-and-bike-touring/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [I studied physics as an undergraduate, and after I graduated from Rice University, I was actually hired at the Johnson Space Center as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/i-studied-physics-as-an-undergraduate-and-after-i-graduated-from-rice/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [To be able to watch our colleagues, our friends come home safely is always an emotional event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/to-be-able-to-watch-our-colleagues-our-friends-come-home-safely-is/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) [Explore all 60 Shannon Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) ## More End quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [“You are the end of beauty and creativity one must have created so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-are-the-end-of-beauty-and-creativity-one-must-have-created-so-far/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Obviously, I want to win, but at the same time, at the end of the day, it's a game and that's what I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/obviously-i-want-to-win-but-at-the-same-time-at-the-end-of-the-day-it/) [Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/) > [I loved Twitter. But I was going to end up saying something that would get me into trouble. I have kept a clean nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-richards/i-loved-twitter-but-i-was-going-to-end-up-saying-something-that-would/) [Micah Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-richards/) > [I'm a humanist at heart: at the end of the day, we are all human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/i-m-a-humanist-at-heart-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-are-all-human-beings/) [Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/) > [At the end of the day, winning games is the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/at-the-end-of-the-day-winning-games-is-the-only-thing-that-matters/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [My best business decision was to be independent as a musician and artist. My worst was compromising on certain aspects of a deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/my-best-business-decision-was-to-be-independent-as-a-musician-and/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [Regular panelists on shows can be terrifying. They own that space, and many guest comics suspect they are favoured in the edit, while their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/regular-panelists-on-shows-can-be-terrifying-they-own-that-space-and/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [Our ape legs make us great generalists - we can walk, run and climb. 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