Final Shuttle Launch

[dirkterrell]

Finals checks look good. T-2 minutes...

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/135_splash/index.html

[dirkterrell]

Stalled at T-31 seconds...

[dirkterrell]

Sounds minor...

[dirkterrell]

Countdown continuing...

[Ghost]

Go girl go...

[dirkterrell]

She's away. Godspeed Atlantis.

[Ghost]

Thanks for the updates, I'm at PMP with no tv.

Can't believe we're done, how sad a day this is...

[aerofaze]

Still watching... This is both heartening and sad.

[dirkterrell]

Good solid rocket booster separation. Coming up on main engine cut-off in about 4 minutes.

[dirkterrell]

Abort to orbit is now possible. Everything looking good.

[dirkterrell]

One minute to MECO, all engines look good. 15,000 mph. :)

[Sean]

:shocked:


Thanks for the link, Dirk!

[dirkterrell]

MECO and external tank separation looked good. They don't require any initial tweaking to the orbit, so they are right where they need to be.

[GaribaldiCU]

Tank away. You know, I think them adding the cam to the tank was a brilliant idea.

[modette99]

Oh man I was laughing that it might be cancelled today...I have a Canadian friend that went to the launch and also a cousin of my wife is there.

Its not a happy day, but a Sad one, that our space program got the axe...which is total and utter BullShit. We should remain leaders and have not cancelled the shuttle program till a replacement was up and running. Maybe the NEXT President will see fit to restart or speed up a new shuttle program.

[Graphite675]

I grew up right on the space coast and have watched launches from my front yard since the Apollo days. Truely a sight to see up close. It's a sad day to see the last launch of the space shuttle, the end of an era :-(


.

[salsashark]

Oh man I was laughing that it might be cancelled today...I have a Canadian friend that went to the launch and also a cousin of my wife is there.

One of my coworkers flew to FL three times to catch the last launch...


Its not a happy day, but a Sad one, that our space program got the axe...which is total and utter BullShit. We should remain leaders and have not cancelled the shuttle program till a replacement was up and running. Maybe the NEXT President will see fit to restart or speed up a new shuttle program.

Agreed. It is sad.

[mastap07]

great link dirk! earth looks awesome from that view!

[dirkterrell]

Its not a happy day, but a Sad one, that our space program got the axe...which is total and utter BullShit. We should remain leaders and have not cancelled the shuttle program till a replacement was up and running. Maybe the NEXT President will see fit to restart or speed up a new shuttle program.

Well, we (the citizens of the USA) have an odd view of the space program (which, of course, includes a lot more than just manned spaceflight but that's what we're talking about here). We rightfully take pride in it. We like to be number one. But the truth is that it has been pretty stagnant, mainly because we haven't had any real competition. We are not a people who seem to collectively desire to push back the boundaries of exploration for the (extensive) merits of that exploration.

If we fear that someone will get there before us, then we are a hell of a force to reckon with, but we do not seem to grasp the connection between exploration and prosperity. I can't tell you how often I have discussed the shortsightedness and ignorance of the "We need to take care of everyone on Earth first." argument with people, as if we are launching piles of money out into space. There's no place in space yet that takes dollars for anything. Most people think we spend huge amounts of money on space exploration, but that is quite a false impression that I think mainly arises because missions are always reported as "the X million dollar so-and-so mission". We spend over 100 times more on Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, etc than we do on all of NASA, so we really are "taking care of people down here." Taking all of NASA's budget and throwing it into that pile won't make the slightest difference in the state of our people. But killing NASA and all of the knowledge we acquire from it, in research that seems esoteric now, would be exceedingly shortsighted and ultimately result in our decline. We sacrifice great things tomorrow for an almost immeasurable gain today.

Yes, there are a few who have the desire, who have spent many years developing the skills necessary to push beyond the boundaries of the knowledge of our place in a vast universe, but most of the time I feel like it is more like dragging humanity along kicking and screaming rather than going willingly with the excitement of discovery. Perhaps that is just the way humans are.

[MetaLord 9]

Its not a happy day, but a Sad one, that our space program got the axe...which is total and utter BullShit. We should remain leaders and have not cancelled the shuttle program till a replacement was up and running. Maybe the NEXT President will see fit to restart or speed up a new shuttle program.
Agree. I'd like to see it be a debating point of just how much more we should be doing in space and how important the program is.

The shuttle program was under appreciated while we had it but will be sorely missed when it goes dark.

[cptschlongenheimer]

As usual, Dirk, your wisdom is impeccable. The world needs more who try to view things the way you do.

[dirkterrell]

I grew up right on the space coast and have watched launches from my front yard since the Apollo days. Truely a sight to see up close. It's a sad day to see the last launch of the space shuttle, the end of an era :-(


I saw ~30 shuttle launches from the press site at the Cape while I was in grad school. We used to do a post-mission recap at the university museum after each one for the public and they were very popular. I only remember seeing Apollo 17 launch when we lived in Jacksonville, but I do remember seeing Apollo 11 on TV and then seeing the Moon in the sky, thinking how cool it would be to be up there walking around. It had a profound influence on me as a four year old and set the direction I would take in life.

[Graphite675]

I only remember seeing Apollo 17 launch when we lived in Jacksonville, but I do remember seeing Apollo 11 on TV and then seeing the Moon in the sky, thinking how cool it would be to be up there walking around. It had a profound influence on me as a four year old and set the direction I would take in life.


The space program had a huge impact on my life as well. It was so cool growing up there during that era. It was an exciting time for space exploration. The area was really booming. It was a time of dreams and huge advance's in technology. A time were all of us wanted to grow up and be an Astronaut or do something great (unlike most kids today).

The Apollo lunches were something to see. I lived in Indialantic just to the south of Cocoa Beach and those things would rattle every window in our house when they went up. Talk about pure HP!


.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

In a way it's a sad day, in a way it's a happy one. Sad that it's the end of an era, but happy it's the start of a new one. There will be a lag between the end of the last one, and start of the new one, but the shuttle was actually a very inefficient launch vehicle from what I'd been told by some of the NASA guys I worked with, and some of the things I'd read. The Saturn V, and most "disposable" launch vehicles (rockets) are a lot more efficient (read: cost effective) launch vehicle. I'm all for space exploration, I think it's great from a scientific knowledge perspective, and I actually did some design on an experiment that was launched. I just think we can do it more effectively, so hopefully that's the direction we'll be taking soon. I was bummed I didn't get the job to work on the Orion project about a month ago. :(

[rybo]

In the spirit of all great explorers, from those who pioneered across the West, or sailed the oceans, to those who climbed big mountains for the first time - I offer the following phrase:

Mars - It's what's next.

[dirkterrell]

In a way it's a sad day, in a way it's a happy one. Sad that it's the end of an era, but happy it's the start of a new one.

That is yet to be seen. When they (the politicians) said "We'll pay for the new vehicle by shutting down the shuttle program.", I said "bullshit". A new administration came along and Constellation was canned. We'll see how long Orion sticks around but I have almost zero confidence that NASA will ever be able to hold a leadership role again in the current environment.

[dirkterrell]

In the spirit of all great explorers, from those who pioneered across the West, or sailed the oceans, to those who climbed big mountains for the first time - I offer the following phrase:

Mars - It's what's next.

We were supposed to get there in 1986 but the Russians backed off after Apollo and we once again returned to studying our navels.

[asp_125]

Maybe they need to privatize it, like what Branson is trying with Virgin Galactic and others going for the X-prize.

[salsashark]

That is yet to be seen. When they (the politicians) said "We'll pay for the new vehicle by shutting down the shuttle program.", I said "bullshit". A new administration came along and Constellation was canned. We'll see how long Orion sticks around but I have almost zero confidence that NASA will ever be able to hold a leadership role again in the current environment.

Orion's already on its death bed... They're laying off a lot of people from that program .

[dirkterrell]

Maybe they need to privatize it, like what Branson is trying with Virgin Galactic and others going for the X-prize.

That's suborbital and (eventually) low-Earth orbit stuff only. In fact, at SwRI we are heavily involved in the VG program and it is a very good thing to have commercial development going on for that, but it's not what's going to get humans out of Earth orbit. Exploration of that magnitude (like suborbital and orbital flight 50 years ago) cannot be carried out by companies. They simply don't have the resources and cannot weather the risks. Governments have to develop the infrastructure and technologies that allow such commercialization to take place.

[modette99]

Yep. we need a President that says look we need to be on Mars in 5 years...and MAKE it happen. Amazing what happened in the early days of NASA. Plus int he long run the technologies we will get will benefit everyone. Plus the pride in being a leader in something.

I think more people rather us spend on NASA then on other pointless things. I've never met someone that did not like SciFi movies and space movies...after all StarTrek was huge. people like the idea of being in space....its the Politicians that thing we should not be wasting money, but I think they are wrong.

Imagine what we could do if we spent what we do on the Military on just SPACE....we not only be on Mars, we be Colonizing it. Very sad indeed

[Zach929rr]

Our country spends more $$$ on A/C for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq than is appropriated to NASA.

[asp_125]

..ahah, we just need to put our troops on Mars, then. :D

[Zach929rr]

..ahah, we just need to put our troops on Mars, then. :D

:idea:

inb4 Doom 4

[Sarge]

Our country spends more $$$ on A/C for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq than is appropriated to NASA.

I spent March 10 - July 10 in Iraq, living in a 12 man tent without AC. Ever tried sleeping in a tent without AC in the desert? All the thermometers we had capped out at 145 degrees.

[Zach929rr]

I wasn't implying by any means that our soldiers need to be sleep in triple digit temps. Just thought it was an interesting figure.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Yep. we need a President that says look we need to be on Mars in 5 years...and MAKE it happen. Amazing what happened in the early days of NASA. Plus int he long run the technologies we will get will benefit everyone. Plus the pride in being a leader in something.

I think more people rather us spend on NASA then on other pointless things. I've never met someone that did not like SciFi movies and space movies...after all StarTrek was huge. people like the idea of being in space....its the Politicians that thing we should not be wasting money, but I think they are wrong.

Imagine what we could do if we spent what we do on the Military on just SPACE....we not only be on Mars, we be Colonizing it. Very sad indeed
Well, if there were illegal aliens on Mars, I'm sure the current admin would be tripping over their dicks (small though they be) to get them here to vote for 'em!:p

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

That is yet to be seen. When they (the politicians) said "We'll pay for the new vehicle by shutting down the shuttle program.", I said "bullshit". A new administration came along and Constellation was canned. We'll see how long Orion sticks around but I have almost zero confidence that NASA will ever be able to hold a leadership role again in the current environment.
Hey, for once, I'm trying to be OPtomistic bro! :)

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

That's suborbital and (eventually) low-Earth orbit stuff only. In fact, at SwRI we are heavily involved in the VG program and it is a very good thing to have commercial development going on for that, but it's not what's going to get humans out of Earth orbit. Exploration of that magnitude (like suborbital and orbital flight 50 years ago) cannot be carried out by companies. They simply don't have the resources and cannot weather the risks. Governments have to develop the infrastructure and technologies that allow such commercialization to take place.
Exactly.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Orion's already on its death bed... They're laying off a lot of people from that program .
Really? You know this....how? Well, maybe I'm glad I DIDN'T get that Orion job at LM then.......now, to find me A job...... :(

[salsashark]

Really? You know this....how? Well, maybe I'm glad I DIDN'T get that Orion job at LM then.......now, to find me A job...... :(

I work for LM...

Plus, it was in the news a couple weeks ago.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/28235195/detail.html

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

I work for LM...

Plus, it was in the news a couple weeks ago.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/28235195/detail.html
Ahhh. Did I talk to you via e-mail about LM jobs once when I was up in ID? What do you do? Hope this doesn't affect you, there's far too many of us unemployed now.... :( Best of luck!

[salsashark]

Ahhh. Did I talk to you via e-mail about LM jobs once when I was up in ID? What do you do? Hope this doesn't affect you, there's far too many of us unemployed now.... :( Best of luck!

I think we exchanged a few messages. I don't work for space systems, but this type of event sends ripples across the entire company.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

I think we exchanged a few messages. I don't work for space systems, but this type of event sends ripples across the entire company.
Yeah, I thought so. Yeah, it sucks, hope you and my friend over there make it.

[Drift]

I was just happy I was able to support my little part in STS 135. I remember staying home from school to watch the first shuttle launch...so it meant something to me during this "fini flight."

Ciao,
Drift