southsider2k5 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Is anyone else out there as sad about this as I am? I was about 7 when the program got going, and it has been a part of my life for 30 years now. I even was lucky enough to live on the other side of I-45 from the Johnson Space Center during the early years of the program, and got some very cool exposure to the program that not many other people can say (such as having my hands on a second generation heat tile before they were even being tested). I feel like a part of my childhood is dying. July 8 as history is made when space shuttle Atlantis lifts off this Earth for the final time. The launch is scheduled for 11:26 a.m. EDT (15:26 UTC/GMT). The STS-135 mission will be the 33rd flight of Atlantis, the 37th shuttle mission to the space station, and the 135th and final mission of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoSox05 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Is Ares I going to replace the space shuttle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostfan Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I could've sworn this already happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 (edited) In the greater historical context Im not sure how the US's space shuttle program will be viewed. I think we could have gone farther, but it seems that as the latter part of the 20th century progressed we began to dream less. Edited July 6, 2011 by Soxbadger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlaSoxxJim Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 (edited) Living in the heart of the Space Coast I can assure you that the vast majority of us are taking the end of the shuttle program very hard. I have seen most of the launches live from home or work over the last 21 years just by stepping outside and looking up. It may be true that the shuttle technology is old and that recyclable orbiters never were as cost-efficient as planned. But until the next-generation vehicles are in place it is just crazy that we are retiring this fleet so prematurely. 60% chance of thunderstorms here on Friday, so a launch that day is certainly iffy. Edited July 6, 2011 by FlaSoxxJim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 01:39 PM) Living in the heart of the Space Coast I can assure you that the vast majority of us are taking the end of the shuttle program very hard. I have seen most of the launches live from home or work over the last 21 years just by stepping outside and looking up. It may be true that the shuttle technology is old and that recyclable orbiters never were as cost-efficient as planned. But until the next-generation vehicles are in place it is just crazy that we are retiring this fleet so prematurely. 60% chance of thunderstorms here on Friday, so a launch that day is certainly iffy. Unless they aren't telling us something about how badly the fleet has aged, I agree totally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 02:44 PM) Unless they aren't telling us something about how badly the fleet has aged, I agree totally. I don't think it's age. I think it's a combination of the fact that they finally are understanding that the shuttle is inherently unsafe and the fact that NASA's budget is already getting a major chop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Also no real monetary gain for the losses. Itd be one thing if gong to the moon brought you new world riches like discoverers in the 15th century. Its another thing when you keep sending people to the Antartic to bring back scientific research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 09:31 PM) Also no real monetary gain for the losses. Itd be one thing if gong to the moon brought you new world riches like discoverers in the 15th century. Its another thing when you keep sending people to the Antartic to bring back scientific research. There's one other thing going on, at least amongst the actual research community. The number of peer-reviewed papers that have come out of JPL missions is usually in the hundreds. Maybe thousands for MER by now. The number of peer-reviewed papers that have come out of the ISS program, at last count? 2. They do interesting engineering projects and random test things involving outside contractors...but the level of science being accomplished by the Shuttle Program just isn't where it could be. Something that simply lifted would be just as useful as the current program. Edit: of course, by far the most successful science effort of the Shuttle Program has been...the observatories, led by the Hubble. The House, of course, just voted to kill its successor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehrle>Wood Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 7, 2011 -> 01:31 AM) Also no real monetary gain for the losses. Itd be one thing if gong to the moon brought you new world riches like discoverers in the 15th century. Its another thing when you keep sending people to the Antartic to bring back scientific research. Kidney Dialysis Cat Scans MRI Fiber Optics Disposable diapers Fiber optics Satellite dishes Ear thermometer Fireresistant fabrics Smoke detectors Teflon Corningware Velcro GPS I'm sure there is tons more. NASA should have just patented all of these and became self-supportive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 If Nasa was making money we wouldnt be having this conversation. I was just saying that if you are going to be dangerous and costly, you need to bring back monetary results. Most of those inventions could have been found (and probably were) using terrestrial testing. If you are going to convince people to spend money on space travel (ie the shuttle program) many of them are going to need to see actual gains in terms of going to space and getting something for it. If there was an ultra rare mineral or other resource that the US needed, wed be gladly spending more money. Which is why this is so shortsighted, one day there will be something up there, its just a matter of when and who is going to get there first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlaSoxxJim Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Tropical wave rolling in, chance of rain at launch time tomorrow now up to 70%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clyons Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I grew up with the Apollo program. The Shuttle program couldn't really compare with the grandeur of that, but it was still exciting (and it and the ISS were much cooler than Skylab). I'm sad to see it go, and sadder still to think that for the first time in over 50 years, our country will not be sending astronauts into space. Instead, we'll be paying "space fare" to Russia to do that for us. That was once unimaginable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Any idea what the window looks like if they can't go today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Still a go with about 26 minutes to go. http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv#utm_campaig...;medium=6540154 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 All of the hold clearances are go. Even the weather sounds like a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Hold at 31 seconds for a retraction failure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Hold is cleared, counting from 30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Off the pad with no problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Boosters away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jul 7, 2011 -> 09:39 AM) Tropical wave rolling in, chance of rain at launch time tomorrow now up to 70%. I knew the whole time it was going. I just didn't want to jinx myself by telling Flax how wrong he was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Copyright Balta1701: 2011. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Btw, flaxx, the number of anti-abortion messages in this state is just ridiculous. After the 80th billboard I couldnt think of anything other than abortion. I wouldn't want to do that drive with a five year old even to get to Disney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Very cool pics B. I wish I could have been there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapkomet Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Balta,those are awesome. I got to see once launch and it was in 1985 ish. I still remember it very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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