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.

Is Ares I going to replace the space shuttle?

I could've sworn this already happened?

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, 201114 yr by Soxbadger

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, 201114 yr by FlaSoxxJim

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tropical wave rolling in, chance of rain at launch time tomorrow now up to 70%.

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.

Any idea what the window looks like if they can't go today?

Still a go with about 26 minutes to go.

 

http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv#utm_campaig...;medium=6540154

All of the hold clearances are go. Even the weather sounds like a go.

Hold at 31 seconds for a retraction failure

Hold is cleared, counting from 30.

Off the pad with no problems

Boosters away

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.

Copyright Balta1701: 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.

Very cool pics B. I wish I could have been there.

Balta,those are awesome.

 

I got to see once launch and it was in 1985 ish. I still remember it very well.