Posted on 07/07/2011 9:23:54 AM PDT by hoagy62
Thank the Lord, not a flaw to be seen.
I was screaming “GO! GO! GO!” at the screen....scared my daughter.
Shuttle has turned “heads up” and is proceeding nominally.
<60 sec to MECO
external tank sep
ET Sep....Atlantis is in space...one last time.
hey jpsb, long time no-see.
You still down there in Galveston? Hows the bar goin’?
I am happy that we at least got one more repair mission to the Hubble, no other system is capable of retrieval or repair. We are going to miss her. I wonder what the USAF has? Hard to believe (dido SR-71) that the nation would give up this capability if there was no replacement.
Hello, lol, yes and it’s still there and still not making much $$$$. Oh well, one of these days :)
I agree that its an end of an era. And I question the wisdom of ending the program w/out a viable replacement.
That being said, if there’s money to be made, I’d like to see commercial step up to the plate now.
I’m a capitalist. This shouldn’t be some business plan akin to that of the underwear gnomes.
The problem with the space shuttle is that its a product of the admirals not knowing what the purpose for their ships was supposed to be. The designers and engineers created something based on the moving goal-post requirements definitions presented every couple years.
The problem began in the very early 70’s and festered until the Challenger disaster. At that point the mission statement took a radical departure leaving a mouse designed by committee that weighed 10 tons, long trunk, huge flappy ears and two huge ivory tusks.
post launch new-conference
The newly unemployed shuttle launch control center team spent a bit of time dithering about in the launch facilities, taking pictures, prior to shutin’ ‘er down, turning the lights off and filing out and lockin the doors behind ‘em. They all signed the “out of business” plaque they hung on the knob.
They’re planning on 39b launch facilities refurb for multi-user use; for rent sign hung out at Kennedy Space Ctr.
Next 9 years will focus on R & D for Orion capsule and heavy lift launch vehicle. The accum’d knowledge base over the last 30 years will now be avail for commercial use.
Shuttle lauch tech experts will solicit their resumes to commercial organizations to ply their expertice for commercial space flight.
Video rolling of all the launch crew white room dudes with signs: have resume will travel. Not quite “will work for food” as the guys sitting on the side of the intersections, but the sentiment is there.
Well this is certainly true and the same thing happened with the space station! Well in a few days the Shuttle will be no more, sadly.
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