Atlantis blast off marks final NASA shuttle launch

[murd0c]

Really sad that after 30yrs this is the final NASA mission. My question is what are they going to be doing now? I'm at work so I can't imbed the video.

Atlantis blast off marks final NASA shuttle launch - News1130

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL (NEWS1130) - After a slight delay, space shuttle Atlantis blasted off Friday morning, marking NASA's final space shuttle launch.

The four astronauts on board are making one final supply run on a 12 day mission to the International Space Station.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators made the trip for the final launch, just over 30 years after the first ever trip to space.

Astronaut Bob Thirsk, originally from New Westminster, was in Cape Canaveral for the historic event.

Speaking live on News1130, Thirsk says it's a big moment. "It's the end of a glorious era. The space shuttle program is 30 years old, has accomplished incredible things. Done some pretty amazing feats in space and it's the sad end of an era."

Thirsk is the only Canadian to have lived on the International Space Station. "Exhilarating. We're well trained, it's hard work to train for a flight it's not easy what we do, but everything on my flight went really well."

After this flight, Atlantis is set to return to Kennedy Space Center, where it will end up on permanent display.

[Jgresch]

Why are they not sending any more?
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[- kT]

Why would they name it atlantis
Posted via RS Mobile

[LiquidTurbo]

Issues are cost related aren't they?

[Gumby]

Yeah, #1 reason why they're ending the shuttle program is cost.

[JD¹³]

I think it's primarily due to the shuttles being at the end of their service life and a replacement can't be afforded right now. The Russians have a shuttle but it has never been flown. All NASA astronauts will be sent up on Russian rockets now, including Canadian Chris Hadfield who will be spending 6 months on the ISS soon.

[falcon]

Originally Posted by Jgresch

Why are they not sending any more?
Posted via RS Mobile

Because the decepticons aren't there anymore.


For serious though... I thought I watched something on how NASA wants to focus on long range shuttles now? Instead of just earth orbit missions.

[CP.AR]

hopefully the first of the next gen shuttles will be called the "Enterprise"

[urrh]

Originally Posted by Captain Picard

hopefully the first of the next gen shuttles will be called the "Enterprise"

Too soon. "Enterprise" should be reserved for the first shuttles with warp

[gars]

Originally Posted by Captain Picard

hopefully the first of the next gen shuttles will be called the "Enterprise"

But there has been a space shuttle called Enterprise already....??

[CP.AR]

there's been a lot of ships that's been named the enterprise

[JD¹³]

Some very cool shuttle footage in this tribute from Aprilia USA. Thought you all might enjoy. At 2:05 watch for the shockwave through the air as the shuttle breaks the sound barrier.

YouTube - ‪Aprilia USA pays tribute to the Space Shuttle‬‏

[murd0c]

Gotta love seeing the Canada arm at 57 seconds.

[Gumby]

I get the feeling that those of us born in the early 80s or before have much more of an affinity to the shuttle program, partially because we grew up watching the shuttles launch on TV. It was such an awesome display of technology, and the media always made a spectacle of it.

Nowadays, the younger generation kinda takes technology for granted. And there's so much other distracting stuff.

Am I alone on this?

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by - kT

Why would they name it atlantis
Posted via RS Mobile

From http://hotword.dictionary.com/atlantis/:

Superheroes and lost cities aside, the space shuttle Atlantis was actually named after the RV Atlantis – a research vessel used from 1930 to 1966 by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to study marine life and the ocean floor. All of the shuttles have been named after historically important maritime research vessels. The two-masted sailing ship was named in honor of – you guessed it, the” lost city” of Atlantis.

[DC5-S]

who cares.. zzzz

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by DC5-S

who cares.. zzzz

See what I mean?

[gars]

Originally Posted by Gumby

I get the feeling that those of us born in the early 80s or before have much more of an affinity to the shuttle program, partially because we grew up watching the shuttles launch on TV. It was such an awesome display of technology, and the media always made a spectacle of it.

Nowadays, the younger generation kinda takes technology for granted. And there's so much other distracting stuff.

Am I alone on this?

I agree - I remember going to Kennedy Space Center when I was 6 - and thinking that Space Shuttles are the most amazing thing. These days, kids just look at shuttles and think of them as everyday technology. They aren't, there was so much research put into these shuttles - so much work done aboard, especially in recent years.

To think of Star Trek / Star Wars - you have to look at NASA and think of how they are pioneering the way towards space travel, so one day, we will be able to

[...] explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.

30 years of the Space Shuttle

YouTube

Launch of Atlantis today. It sent shivers down my back...

YouTube

[shenmecar]

I guess NASA engineers can just chill at work since theres no need for developing space shuttle equipment anymore................

[ajei]

hand space exploration off to private companies...
should watch some of the progress vids for Virgin galactic.

[twitchyzero]

Are Canadians really that proud of the Canadarm? I remember learning it in elementary school and 'til this day I still lulz at the name.

[impactX]

FYI, the next spacecraft of NASA:

Space Launch System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[SkinnyPupp]

As long as they aren't ending or cutting the space program, I don't mind the shuttles coming to an end. It's time to move on, I guess.

Imagine where we would be if the US diverted funds from their military program to NASA

[murd0c]

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

As long as they aren't ending or cutting the space program, I don't mind the shuttles coming to an end. It's time to move on, I guess.

Imagine where we would be if the US diverted funds from their military program to NASA

The US doesn't have to pump money into NASA any more she the NRO is now going to be in control

National Reconnaissance Office : 50 Years of Vigilance From Above

National Reconnaissance Office - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) develops and operates space reconnaissance systems and conducts intelligence-related activities for U.S. National Security.[3]

It also coordinates collection and analysis of information from airplane and satellite reconnaissance by the military services and the Central Intelligence Agency.[4] It is funded through the National Reconnaissance Program, which is part of the National Foreign Intelligence Program. The agency is part of the Department of Defense.

The NRO works closely with its intelligence and space partners, which include the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the United States Strategic Command, Naval Research Laboratory and other agencies and organizations.

It has been proposed that the NRO share imagery of the United States itself with the National Applications Office for domestic law enforcement.[5] The NRO operates ground stations around the world that collect and distribute intelligence gathered from reconnaissance satellites.

According to Asia Times Online, one important mission of NRO satellites is the tracking of non-US submarines on patrol or on training missions in the world's oceans and seas.[6]

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by JD¹³

Some very cool shuttle footage in this tribute from Aprilia USA. Thought you all might enjoy. At 2:05 watch for the shockwave through the air as the shuttle breaks the sound barrier.

YouTube - ‪Aprilia USA pays tribute to the Space Shuttle‬‏

Wow I just watched the video now - and it was worth it! Aprilia basically gives props to the Space Shuttle, but also says "hey, our motorcycle's no slouch either".

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.