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Space Shuttle Endeavour Heads To Space Station
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."
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
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
This article says about 9 pieces fell off of the fuel tank and struck the shuttle.
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.
But that's even faster than Ludicrous Speed!
I am officially gone from
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
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.
> 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
"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.
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.
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