THE FINAL SHUTTLE LAUNCH!

[CJP]

As promised I said I would do my best to get out there and film / photograph the last shuttle mission. Well I did make it and the video is online now. I will also be sharing pictures in this thread.

[L99SS]

I had hoped to witness a shuttle launch in person someday...well, that hope is now on hold indefinitely. But it sure was exciting to be near the alternate landing site for all these years - heard most of those which came home on the lakebed! A truly amazing era is coming to a close with this mission. :(

I am still left with a feeling that U.S. ingenuity and ambition will bring yet another prestigious space program in the future. We still have a flag on the moon bearing witness to that!

[Ivas]

Originally Posted by L99SS

I had hoped to witness a shuttle launch in person someday...well, that hope is now on hold indefinitely. But it sure was exciting to be near the alternate landing site for all these years - heard most of those which came home on the lakebed! A truly amazing era is coming to a close with this mission. :(

I am still left with a feeling that U.S. ingenuity and ambition will bring yet another prestigious space program in the future. We still have a flag on the moon bearing witness to that!

The next generation of space flight may well be better served by electronic probes and only the rare sending of humans into space. Unmanned craft and long range sensing without craft at all seem to be cost-effective and highly productive. It lacks the "glamour factor" yes, but hell, this ain't a TV show anyhow.
If we're seriously considering Mars as a new focus of human implantation, one-way colonization is the way to go (and not come back). To terraform Mars would be a very worthy project. It would be a multi-generational endeavor. We readers on the forum are already too old to participate as colonists, yet we would be welcome as participants in its Earth side development. I don't know 'bout you, but I'd love to be part of it.

[ROBOSSRS]

Originally Posted by Ivas

The next generation of space flight may well be better served by electronic probes and only the rare sending of humans into space. Unmanned craft and long range sensing without craft at all seem to be cost-effective and highly productive. It lacks the "glamour factor" yes, but hell, this ain't a TV show anyhow.
If we're seriously considering Mars as a new focus of human implantation, one-way colonization is the way to go (and not come back). To terraform Mars would be a very worthy project. It would be a multi-generational endeavor. We readers on the forum are already too old to participate as colonists, yet we would be welcome as participants in its Earth side development. I don't know 'bout you, but I'd love to be part of it.

As slow as space exploration is moving you and I are too old to participate in any part of it !:(

[Overflow]

I grew up with the space shuttles. Living in Florida, the space shuttles were always a big part of Floridian culture. I remember watching every space shuttle launch I could. Online and in person.

Thursday, the day before the final shuttle launch, we went to Kennedy Space Center to see space shuttle Atlantis, the final space shuttle to launch from Kennedy Space Center. I took pictures, I'll post them up when I upload them. Space shuttle Atlantis was on launch pad 39A, launch pad 39B was being destroyed. Everyone was taking pictures of Atlantis.

The day of the launch, everyone was worried that it would take off. But within 5 minutes of the launch time the clouds opened up, allowing Atlantis into space. We went out to the beach to see our last space shuttle launch. But the cloud coverage was horrible. So we saw nothing. All we heard was the separation of the rocket boosters, they sounded like thunder.

When watching the launch replay on TV it was really sad for us. The shuttles would be gone.

A news anchor said ," NASA plans to launch a rocket to the ISS this fall, and they plan to have people back up in space by 2014." If this is true, I really hope NASA steps up the pace and starts sending people deeper into space.

[ROBOSSRS]

Originally Posted by Overflow

I grew up with the space shuttles. Living in Florida, the space shuttles were always a big part of Floridian culture. I remember watching every space shuttle launch I could. Online and in person.

Thursday, the day before the final shuttle launch, we went to Kennedy Space Center to see space shuttle Atlantis, the final space shuttle to launch from Kennedy Space Center. I took pictures, I'll post them up when I upload them. Space shuttle Atlantis was on launch pad 39A, launch pad 39B was being destroyed. Everyone was taking pictures of Atlantis.

The day of the launch, everyone was worried that it would take off. But within 5 minutes of the launch time the clouds opened up, allowing Atlantis into space. We went out to the beach to see our last space shuttle launch. But the cloud coverage was horrible. So we saw nothing. All we heard was the separation of the rocket boosters, they sounded like thunder.

When watching the launch replay on TV it was really sad for us. The shuttles would be gone.

A news anchor said ," NASA plans to launch a rocket to the ISS this fall, and they plan to have people back up in space by 2014." If this is true, I really hope NASA steps up the pace and starts sending people deeper into space.

I sure hope so.

[Ivas]

C'mon brother, it ain't that sorry a trip. You'll see; things will turn around as the economy rights itself. Perhaps, though, the opportunities will not be in the U.S.. The European space program, Ariane, is in gear now. It looks to be headed in a good direction.

The launch site is in the French Département de Cayenne, close to the Equator, to take fullest advantage of the rotational force of the Earth in launching rockets skyward.

Learning French would be a good idea, but not requisite to enjoying the development of the Ariane Project. Scientists from many origins are working there in concert.

It'll be cool, don't worry.

[camaroracing2834]

I was supposed to go, and I am very upset at myself for not going. I am glad Atlantis went off without a hitch, and I hope they make it back safely. Nice job with the video!

["prima"Donna]

Thanks so much for sharing the experience with us...the video gave me chills...the music background was a nice touch too!!!

Farewell, Atlantis...Godspeed!!!

[SandPredator]

I still don't get it. Are we done with space? Why are we ending the program and sending up a years worth or supplies to the international station?

[Overflow]

Originally Posted by SandPredator

I still don't get it. Are we done with space? Why are we ending the program and sending up a years worth or supplies to the international station?

No, we aren't done with space. We're just done with the space shuttles. It was started 30 years ago. We need new shuttles, but we don't have the money to make them.

NASA will be back in space this fall, and Americans will be back in space in a few years.

[AZCamaroFan]

I so wished i could have seen one in person, and on top of that i didn't even get to see the launch on tv.

thousands of people have lost there jobs, and now a couple thousand more are losing theirs.

[CJP]

[CJP]