End of an era today

2099 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by steelybill, Apr 19, 2012

ssr71

Discussion Starter · Apr 18, 2012

7

The space shuttle Discovery on it's final mission to the Smithsonian. I knew it was coming to town today and I am fortunate enough to work in a location that was right in the fly-by area. Some of the pictures are slightly fuzzy as my camera didn't autofocus fast enough. I got out to the river just in time for the first flyby.

The second one came back directly at us heading north.

We were treated to 2 more flybys before they headed back towards Dulles airport. I heard that it'll be on display by Friday. But, I won't have time to head out that way for a while - got too many things going on during weekends. I've only been out to the Dulles annex once. They currently have Enterprise on display there, but I read that's being taken elsewhere in exchange for Discovery.

A sad day for the US space program indeed.

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LOCKJAW

· #2 · Apr 18, 2012

You have our President (ugh ) to thank for scrapping the space programs that brought us so much technology and national pride.He is busy transferring.much of NASA's budget to support his social engineering and free handout programs. bummer.Gret reason to vote.

HKDUP87

· #3 · Apr 18, 2012 (Edited)

Just think those were built by the lowest bidder!!!!!!!!oke: Were getting orders now from space x through another wholesaler down here in L.A. If you want it done right go private co. and it's less expensive. Very nice pic's. I wish I was in the flight plan I could watch planes all day.

Mr. Fin

· #4 · Apr 18, 2012

I think you might find that NASA's budget is just as large as it ever was. The only thing is that they have completed the Shutle orbiting project and they have plans to fly deeper in space. Perhaps not manned for some time but, deeper none the less. Quite a few orbital telescopes are either in operation or planned. NASA will be around as long as it is valuable to our domestic and international agendas. If you want the real news, you have to look deeper than the headlines.

LOCKJAW

· #5 · Apr 18, 2012

Mr. Fin said:
I think you might find that NASA's budget is just as large as it ever was. The only thing is that they have completed the Shutle orbiting project and they have plans to fly deeper in space. Perhaps not manned for some time but, deeper none the less. Quite a few orbital telescopes are either in operation or planned. NASA will be around as long as it is valuable to our domestic and international agendas. If you want the real news, you have to look deeper than the headlines.

I agree that the headlines don't always tell the entire story and that the shuttle program will eventually be superceded by new initiatives.That being said,Nobama has nixed much of NASA's projects and left us dependant on Russia to travel to and from the ISS.Stated reasons included budget cuts.Money cut from NASA will surely be squandered on some social programs more aligned with the CIC's political agenda. A good read "Men from the moon" by Buzz Aldrin details the enormous race for space we and thr Russians were engaged in the 60's after JFK gave NASA the green light to shoot for a man on the moon.The competition to be first was very costly.in.dollars and blood for both sides.The russians became reckless and impatient when they realized we were going to win.They lost quite a few souls because of thisSorry to ramble ob. Read the book...fascinating!

TrannyMike

· #6 · Apr 18, 2012

James, I heard that some NASA projects include research on global warming. I don't think that's the job of NASA. :beer:

LOCKJAW

· #7 · Apr 18, 2012

No doubt NASA could contrbute to the study and science of global warming,but it is shameful th:dontknow:at thr prez put the kybosh on any new projects in the near future.There are no votes out in space.There are many votes up for grabs if he can have extra "street money" to spread around in the tight places. Hope you are getting straightened out.

DONE DEAL DONNY

· #8 · Apr 18, 2012

That was a terrific site. I could only watch on T.V. but still a site to be seen.
We need to make the old Star Trek theme a reality!!!:nanawrench:
Donny

TexasElCamino

· #9 · Apr 18, 2012

ssr71,
Thanks for sharing those awesome photos! :beer:

HKDUP87

· #10 · Apr 18, 2012

DONE DEAL DONNY said:
That was a terrific site. I could only watch on T.V. but still a site to be seen.
We need to make the old Star Trek theme a reality!!!:nanawrench:
Donny

I could see the TRIPLE "D"
Captain Capitan we need more poweroke:

jarhead

· #11 · Apr 18, 2012

I was working in Oklahoma City in 1981 and saw Colombia STS-1 being transported from California, where it landed, to Florida. The transport flight took them buy way of Tinker Air Force Base and about 1 mile from where i was working. The plane was prolly 1500 feet of the deck and it was a great sight. Of course no cell phones back then so no photos. I could see the individual tiles, thats how close it was. The shuttle is not as big as it looks on tv, but large none the less.
I watched as the Challenger exploded and saw the disentegration of Columbia first hand from my dad's house in Athens, Texas. I did shed a few tears thinking what these Patriots went thru in their last minutes. I hope they were able to make their peace with God. My cover is off to all those that, as Ronaldus Magnus said "reached for the stars and touched the face of God." Semper Fi!

Camino80

· #12 · Apr 18, 2012

LOCKJAW said:
You have our President (ugh ) to thank for scrapping the space programs that brought us so much technology and national pride.He is busy transferring.much of NASA's budget to support his social engineering and free handout programs. bummer.Gret reason to vote.

:thumbup: :usa:

Now we have to pay the Russians for a ride. Great,just great. :buttkick:

randycamino52

· #13 · Apr 18, 2012

One of the transports enroute to Florida stopped at the Altus Air force Base for refuel and it was impressive to see the shuttle on top of the plane. I can't remeber when it was sometime 85-87.

HKDUP87

· #14 · Apr 18, 2012

5

Space X completes first Dragon capsule crew cabin demonstration

Shane McGlaun, Apr 17th 2012 Discuss [2]

Worth Reading?

+2 [4 votes]

SpaceX is working on the testing of its capsule as it prepares to become the first private spacecraft to dock with the ISS. During the testing of its capsule, called the Dragon spacecraft, SpaceX has announced another milestone has been met. The company has demonstrated the Dragon spacecraft’s crew configuration for the first time.

This marked the first NASA Crew Trial, which is one of two such tests SpaceX has to do on a prototype Dragon crew cabin. As small is the Dragon spacecraft appears from the outside, it appears remarkably roomy on the inside. As you can see in the photograph, seven crewmembers can be comfortably seated inside the capsule.
Each of the seats in the Dragon capsule crew configuration can hold an adult up to 6’5″ tall and weighing up to 250 pounds. Each of the seats also has a liner that is custom fit for each of the crewmembers. SpaceX says with the crew seated inside the Dragon, there is space for three more people to stand to help with launch preparations. In fact, the Dragon is so large that it could hold the entire three-person Russian Soyuz capsule descent module inside its pressure vessel.
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ssr71

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 18, 2012

Here's a link to NASA's Flicker page with the flyby photos. Some are really cool.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/6942978416/in/photostream

steelybill

· #16 · Apr 19, 2012

I liked the pictures..thanks.:smileyb: I can do without the politics though, and everybody has their own opinions, so it's a no-win on a forum.

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