Island Dog Island Dog

End of the Space Shuttle Program

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End of the Space Shuttle Program

from JoeUser Forums

Way back in 1981 I was lucky enough to watch the first Space Shuttle launch from the Kennedy Space Center.  I was just a kid then but what an awesome site it was!  It's funny to think back now how there were no cell phones, and all the other high-tech things we rely on today.

This morning I took my family to nearly the exact same spot to view the final launch of both the Space Shuttle Atlantic and the Space Shuttle program.  The amount of people that came to the space coast to see it was incredible, and the cheering from the crowd along with the rumble of the launch was a fantastic feeling.

Regardless of how you feel about the politics surrounding the end of the Shuttle program, I think we can all agree an icon of America made it's last launch today.

Here are some images we took.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/islanddog/

Space Shuttle Launch STS-135 Space Shuttle Launch STS-135

130,622 views 72 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I always like to think of our space exploration as not from any one country... but representing humanity as a whole... rose coloured glasses I suppose...

but I hope it does continue...

 

Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Struck down by a Marxist with one stroke of a pen.

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Reply #53 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting vStyler, reply 52
Struck down by a Marxist with one stroke of a pen.
End of vStyler's quote

You know Bush was the one who ordered the end of the shuttle program, right? (I just assume that when anyone is talking about a "Marxist/Socialist/Communist" they're talking about Obama:P )

Reply #54 from Sins Forums Top

Obama doesn't want to fund Project Orion, that is clearly striking down something. Obama claims to want to make the United States a leader in science and technology, but is willing to let the Space Shuttle program die without a replacement, thereby forcing us to rely on the Russians to get to the ISS.

Reply #55 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Zeta1127, reply 54
Obama doesn't want to fund Project Orion, that is clearly striking down something. Obama claims to want to make the United States a leader in science and technology, but is willing to let the Space Shuttle program die without a replacement, thereby forcing us to rely on the Russians to get to the ISS.
End of Zeta1127's quote

He killed the Constellation Program, not the Orion. Constellation was supposed to go to the Moon, etc, while the Orion is the actual spacecraft that would go to the Moon. The Orion was never cancelled (although it is now technically the "Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle") and will be used for the missions to asteroids, Mars, and the ISS. The first test flight is scheduled for 2013. Even if Constellation hadn't been cancelled, we wouldn't get the Orion any sooner, and we would still have a couple years of not a Shuttle replacement ready to go. The Shuttle was originally planned to be retired in 2010, and it was under Obama's administration that it was extended to 2011.

Quite frankly, I am disappointed that we don't have a replacement ready to go as well. But disappointment is not a reason to unfairly blame a President for things that are not entirely his fault, regardless of how you feel about his policies.

Reply #56 from JoeUser Forums Top

Ten years from now, you can always bring the family to Beijing to marvel at the space program

Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It sucks but I think I heard that they will start up a new program in 6 to 10 years (manned missions again)

They are still going up I think just not here .. but in Russia or other countries

I got to go to the kennedy space center as an VIP Thanks to George Bush (05-11-2009) FREE!!! just wrote him a letter and he sent it off the NASA...

got to see  NASA Space Operations see the astronauts as the was heading to Atlantis (to fix the hubble telescope) was not able to get too close to them but damn close do to the quarantine they go through.

did get a tour of NASA Space Operations by an astronaut can't remember his name but then again I forgot his name 5 seconds after he told us (maybe if I up a picture one of you would know what his name is?? )

I would have Like to seen a Night time Launch maybe some day..

 

Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top

that's cool DC.... certainly pays to open your mouth and ask...   B)

Reply #60 from Sins Forums Top

Project Constellation and Project Orion, same difference, Orion is a part of Constellation. Orion might as well be canceled without Constellation.

Reply #61 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Zeta1127, reply 60
Project Constellation and Project Orion, same difference, Orion is a part of Constellation. Orion might as well be canceled without Constellation.
End of Zeta1127's quote

:rolleyes: They are hardly the same. The Orion is still getting full funding and is actively being worked on. It is the Shuttle replacement, and will go to the ISS, assuming private companies don't have the capability yet. When the asteroid/Mars missions happen, Orion is going to be the spacecraft that is used. It is very far from cancelled.

Reply #62 from Sins Forums Top

Orion isn't going to make it at the rate they are going...

Reply #63 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Zeta1127, reply 62
Orion isn't going to make it at the rate they are going...
End of Zeta1127's quote

...It's first scheduled test flight is two years away... the same as it was before Constellation was cancelled.:rolleyes:

Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top

     Orion is no more than a bigger more advanced Apollo capsule. Not a true ship at all. It still requires parachutes after re-entry and still splashes down in the ocean. Meanwhile instead of doing what they should have done while STS was still flying was to, not invest in, but build the replacement years ago. Think about it, the shuttle was first designed in the late seventies, first flew in the early eighties and you mean to tell me they could not have produced a viable replacement inside of thirty years? Bullshit! The Air Force has been flying their own space plane for two years now. Its already proved itself during its  orbital flight and the turn around is a lot faster and that without a crew. So...who's foolin' who? Too much emphasis was put on using STS and not enough on improving STS. How hard would it have been to use one of the shuttles as a flying test bed for new avionics and/or designs, engines etc. You're supposed to build on what works not run it into the ground and then worry about what will replace it. Damn idiot politicians!

Reply #65 from Sins Forums Top

Exactly, they couldn't even bother to make a viable replacement before they let STS end! I don't want to see Orion ever leave the ground, since it is little more than a rehash of 50 year old technology.

Reply #66 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Uvah, reply 64
     Orion is no more than a bigger more advanced Apollo capsule. Not a true ship at all. It still requires parachutes after re-entry and still splashes down in the ocean. Meanwhile instead of doing what they should have done while STS was still flying was to, not invest in, but build the replacement years ago. Think about it, the shuttle was first designed in the late seventies, first flew in the early eighties and you mean to tell me they could not have produced a viable replacement inside of thirty years? Bullshit! The Air Force has been flying their own space plane for two years now. Its already proved itself during its  orbital flight and the turn around is a lot faster and that without a crew. So...who's foolin' who? Too much emphasis was put on using STS and not enough on improving STS. How hard would it have been to use one of the shuttles as a flying test bed for new avionics and/or designs, engines etc. You're supposed to build on what works not run it into the ground and then worry about what will replace it. Damn idiot politicians!
End of Uvah's quote

I agree, it is beyond stupid that a replacement isn't already in place. People have been coming up with designs for a potential shuttle replacement practically since the shuttle first launched.

The Orion, despite similarities to Apollo, does build on the technology of the shuttle. The capsules are reusable for one thing. Orion is much better for actually landing on other planets than any space plane. Until we have runways on the Moon, things like the space shuttle will never be able to land there. And taking off like airplane is terribly ineffecient if you want to get to orbit or beyond (and once again you would need a runway). If you want to land on the Moon or Mars or an asteroid, you need something more like Apollo than the Shuttle. It's also cheaper for the most part, unless you are doing a lot of launches.

Upgrading the shuttle was pretty much out of the question. The program was already way over budget, and even if it wan't you can't really just slap a new set of engines on it or anything like that. It would probably be cheaper to just build something new than try to significantly upgrade the existing shuttles.

Yeah, the Air Force has a space plane (that started as NASA's). So? Robotic flights are (comparatively) easy. The point isn't about having a space plane, it's about having a way to get humans to orbit and beyond.

Quoting Zeta1127, reply 65
Exactly, they couldn't even bother to make a viable replacement before they let STS end! I don't want to see Orion ever leave the ground, since it is little more than a rehash of 50 year old technology.
End of Zeta1127's quote

Well then, you can say goodbye to the US manned space program, because that's the only thing being developed.

Reply #67 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting kyogre12, reply 55
The Shuttle was originally planned to be retired in 2010, and it was under Obama's administration that it was extended to 2011.
End of kyogre12's quote

One year isn't an extension, its camouflage for the slow dismantlement of NASA, and the turn over of space to private industry and international "cooperation", which means the US will just fall further behind.

Quoting kyogre12, reply 55
But disappointment is not a reason to unfairly blame a President for things that are not entirely his fault, regardless of how you feel about his policies.
End of kyogre12's quote

Obama was right about one thing, there isn't much ingenuity in the Constellation program, and you are absolutely right, I can't stand his politics.

Quoting kyogre12, reply 66
Well then, you can say goodbye to the US manned space program, because that's the only thing being developed.
End of kyogre12's quote

I doubt Orion will be operation by the end of the decade or even longer, which will end up making it obsolete. I should probably just try to develop what I want to see on my own, instead of expecting NASA to take a step forward when they are actually taking a step backwards.

As it turns out, Obama wants Orion to be an American alternative to the Russian Soyuz, not for going anywhere beyond Earth orbit, and instead wants a new program and commercial vehicles to do the beyond Earth orbit missions.

Reply #69 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Zeta1127, reply 67
One year isn't an extension, its camouflage for the slow dismantlement of NASA, and the turn over of space to private industry and international "cooperation", which means the US will just fall further behind.
End of Zeta1127's quote

Odd, I didn't know "dismantlement" meant "increase overall budget." NASA's budget for 2011 is higher than 2010 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA. And god forbid we cooperate with other countries. Going to Mars will be cheap and easy, right?

Quoting Zeta1127, reply 67
I doubt Orion will be operation by the end of the decade or even longer, which will end up making it obsolete.
End of Zeta1127's quote

I assume you have something to back up that claim other than your apparent hatred for Orion? You seem to have ignored what I've already said in this thread multiple times, so I'll say it one more time in the hope that you read it this time. The first test flight of Orion is scheduled for 2013. It will be fully operational by 2016. Sure, there could be some delays, but it's very unlikely to be that delayed.

Quoting Zeta1127, reply 67
As it turns out, Obama wants Orion to be an American alternative to the Russian Soyuz, not for going anywhere beyond Earth orbit, and instead wants a new program and commercial vehicles to do the beyond Earth orbit missions.
End of Zeta1127's quote

Once again, you appear to be ignoring everything I've posted. Orion is supposed to go to Mars and/or asteroids. Obama's program is for private companies to do Earth orbit stuff, and NASA to do the stuff beyond.

Reply #70 from Sins Forums Top

Not what I am reading, but oh well.

Reply #71 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Left by the Astronauts over the central display screen of Atlantis.

Thought it should go on this thread:

Reply #72 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Space Shuttle launches have always made me get goosebumps.  I love watching them liftoff and I'm sad to see them gone.  Btw, since it is still spelled wrong up there after all this time, the Shuttle's name is Atlantis.