Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch Live Thread ( 02/08/10 4:15 am EST)

02/07/10 | Kevin Davis

[LBKQ]

Saw it from the West coast........Very awesome!

[happinesswithoutpeace]

: )

[OBXWanderer]

Just got in from watching Endeavor pass east off the North Carolina coast; perfect night, crescent moon just a bit bright in the SE sky, at almost same elevation as shuttle...that baby was moving, then as it passed just north of due east...MECO...nice show Zambo....

[Lancey Howard]

Wow, that was a beautiful launch! The camera work on launches has improved tremendously over the decades.

[noblejones]

<<
Yea, Me too.

SWEET!
>>

I’m in Savannah. Where are you?

Just barely managed to stay awake.

[mowowie]

Up north in MA.
It looked like a fast moving Bright star from my front doorstep.

[Law Student 10]

I’m watching coverage of the Space Shuttle launch tonight. It’s a magnificint sight whenever that vehicle travels to the heavens.

Nonetheless, I can’t help but wonder about the proposed budget. As we send American pioneers into space, the administration is considering and, indeed, recommending, cuts to NASA funding. In light of the recent discoveries on the Moon viz. water, this seems entirely contradictory to the goals of space exploration and advancement of the human condition.

What’s more, the same bureaucrats who typed up the cuts to the NASA budget likely used technology that grew out of the space program.

I’m not sure I know what would qualify as a more prime example of irony.

[messierhunter]

I was able to shoot the whole thing from 12 miles away, but I've only been able to download a few pictures. Here's SRB separation:

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Awesome!

[rlmorel]

I feel the same way.

[Army Air Corps]

Oh well, there’s always social work.

And working under the watchful eye of the SEIU...

[cva66snipe]

I don't agree with the cuts at all. Expecting the private sector do do space exploration is ridiculous. There is no money in it for them The only customer that could have would be the federal government. There is no marketable commodity or service in space beyond the obvious communications satellite launches. The private sector has no space market exploration wise except for the demand which came from NASA to build needed equipment. IOW kill NASA’s budget and you kill space exploration. It's that simple.

[SlightOfTongue]

Feb. 7 is my birthday also. And, yes, I agree. Another reason I am particularly sad is this thread reminds of an old friend who took me on a tour of NASA when I was stationed at Fort Meade, MD (NSA) in 1965. Maybe you remember him - Gus Grissom.

But it's better to be sad remembering Gus than to be happy and forget him, which I will never do.

[GeronL]

I certainly hope something happens to change what looks very bad for space exploration

[smokingfrog]

Shuttle docked with ISS about 20 minutes ago. Station crew is waiting for the shuttle to finish some proceedures before welcoming them into the space station.

[smokingfrog]

Endeavour crew is now abord the ISS!