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Space Shuttle Endeavour Heads To Space Station

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the still-no-light-speed-engine dept.

RobGoldsmith writes "The STS-127 crew began its journey to the International Space Station at 6:03 p.m. EDT Wednesday when space shuttle Endeavour lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The shuttle crew will complete construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and deliver a new crew member, astronaut Tim Kopra, to the orbital outpost."

17 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Space news by blackjackshellac · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In other news, 40 years ago, in 30 minutes Apollo 11 lifted off for the first moon walk. I remember it like it was yesterday ... okay, maybe a month ago.

    --
    Salut,

    Jacques

    1. Re:Space news by dkleinsc · · Score: 3, Funny

      No. In other news, 40 years ago, NASA staged the Apollo 11 liftoff as part of a big effort to fool the Ruskies, and then secreted Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong to a sound stage to film the moon landing. Get it right!

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    2. Re:Space news by ls671 · · Score: 3, Informative

      The other day, I saw some scientist on TV saying that during mission Apollo 11, they installed mirrors on the moon and that he is still using them today by shooting LASER beams at them from the Earth in order to gather data from the reflection (moon distance etc. )

      Now some Slashdot reader must have a powerful enough LASER beam around in order to shoot at the moon. Could this good Samaritan please test if those mirrors are really there and report back to us so we can close this case ?

      Thanks in advance ;-))

      The scientist said that none of the conspiracy theorists ever went to see him so he could show them the beam reflecting on those mirrors. I am wondering how many people are aware of those mirrors on the moon...

      --
      Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
    3. Re:Space news by roundisfunny · · Score: 3, Informative

      In case you care, the JFK Library is sponsoring a real-time online reenactment of the Apollo 11 mission - complete with actual radio transmissions. http://wechoosethemoon.org/ The URL is based on Kennedy's speech about how we choose the moon, not because it's easy, but because it's hard - or something like that.

    4. Re:Space news by Shakrai · · Score: 3, Funny

      The best proof is, arguably, the fact that the Russians never disputed it. They had the tracking necissary to see the ship heading out, the recievers necissary to recieve the transmissions coming back, and the motivation to destroy the US's reputation; but not once did the Russian government ever dispute the facts of the moon landing.

      Nah, that's just proves they were in on the conspiracy. I bet they had a hand in helping the Jews stage 9/11 and the US Navy shoot down TWA Flight 800 too.

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  2. Canadian footprint by AikonMGB · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Incidentally, this is the first time in history that there will be two Canadian astronauts working aboard the ISS simultaneously.

    Aikon-

    p.s. Better work quick if they've only got 'til 2016 =P

    1. Re:Canadian footprint by JustOK · · Score: 3, Funny

      And they'll make them stop at a Tim's along the way.

      --
      rewriting history since 2109
  3. Foam fell off and struck the shuttle by Mondrames · · Score: 4, Informative

    This article says about 9 pieces fell off of the fuel tank and struck the shuttle.

  4. Seriously..., "Kibo"? by Jawn98685 · · Score: 4, Funny

    So I am to understand that a large part of this mission is to put "Kibo" in orbit...
    James Parry must be doubled over with laughter right about now.

  5. Re:Please, please, please... by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Funny

    But that's even faster than Ludicrous Speed!

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  6. Re:And this is news? by mccalli · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why not cover "real news" like How the smartphone rivals are building their communities, [techradar.com] referring to Android and iPhone platforms?

    You know, I like my iPhone. It's nice. But compared to reporting on mankind's efforts in space I really don't think we're talking about the same level of importance...

    Cheers,
    Ian

  7. no research, no results (was Re:And this is news?) by WillAdams · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The irony of your wondering ``What have we gotten from all the experiments done in space since the sixties anyway? Do these expenses justify the cost?'' and then posting a story about smart (cell) phones has pegged my bogometer, actually bending the needle.

    Here's a clue --- all interesting smartphone capabilities are intricately tied into satellites --- which are the result of space exploration and experimentation.

    William

    --
    Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
  8. Re:Please, please, please... by Canazza · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Holy hell, did you know they made a 13-episode Animated Series of Spaceballs? :O

    --
    It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
  9. Re:And this is news? by bmo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    > We've had decades of shuttle launches, that this is now routine.

    It stopped being routine when Challenger blew up. It became even less "routine" when Columbia disintegrated.

    Oh well, I guess people risking their lives (there's a current story that large pieces of foam struck the shuttle on launch) isn't news, but rather some uninspiring BS about phone "communities" is.

    I know, I have been trolled, but this made me rage.

    --
    BMO

  10. Re:Please, please, please... by timster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "Godspeed" is a GREAT word, with a near-optimum combination of tone, rhythm, and history to convey the notion of hope for a successful journey. As an atheist, you will pry "Godspeed" out of my cold, dead, not-going-to-Heaven hands, along with "god dammit", Christmas and Bach.

    --
    I have seen the future, and it is inconvenient.
  11. Pretty cool to see. by popoutman · · Score: 3, Informative

    At about 11.22 local time here in Ireland, I got to see the Shuttle pass overhead just after the EFT seperation. Seeing both objects at 1700mph and a nice low altitude of 60 miles meant that the speed across the sky was really fast, and that the brightness of the shuttle was on the high side of magitude -5 or so. The orange of the EFT was clearly seen also.
    The icing on the cake was seeing the ISS as well about 20 minutes later at about the same real speed but much slower across the sky given its distance.
    I'm looking forwards to seeing the Shuttle play catch-up over the next few nights!

    --
    - This sig deliberately left blank. Nothing to see, move along.
  12. Re:And this is news? by BJ_Covert_Action · · Score: 4, Informative

    I work in the space industry and, honestly, it feels like an extremely isolated community. Aside from my coworkers and other companies' workers cheering on various satellite launches and successful space walks, it seems like nobody else gives a damn about what I consider to be one of the most exciting scientific endeavors in the history of this planet.

    This is, however, why I love slashdot. I come on here one morning on a low-gumption thursday and find a tart complaining about the importance of smart phone communities only to see him doubly rebuked for being such a short-sighted self-obsessed fiend. Thanks to you and the others that have put that tool in his place for continuing to remind a young up and coming space-industry worker bee just how much intelligent people really do care about this realm of progress.

    Cheers.

    --
    Motorcycles, Robots, Space Gossip and More!