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Shuttle Atlantis Lands Safely After Final Official Mission

Posted by timothy on from the now-it's-time-for-unofficial-joyrides dept.

saintory writes "Shuttle Atlantis landed this morning after flying its final official mission. In its 25-year service, the shuttle Atlantis has logged over 120 million miles." After a successful mission to deliver a research module to the International Space Station, the craft landed at Kennedy Space Center, and will "go through the normal flow of prelaunch preparations in order to serve as the 'launch-on-need' vehicle for Endeavour's STS-134 mission, the last scheduled flight of the Space Shuttle Program." Congratulations to the people aboard and on the ground who engineered the shuttle's successful return.

10 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Welcome home. by Pojut · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Thank you for your years of service, Atlantis. You will be forever remembered :( Billions in bank bailouts, billions in healthcare....but ~$20 billion for NASA? Out of the question!

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:Welcome home. by BJ_Covert_Action · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Meh, even if all of the money towards bank bailouts and healthcare went towards NASA, I'd still like to see the shuttles retired. We can make more progress in space exploration using more modern launch systems (Falcon 9, Atlas V) and on-orbit rendezvous than we can flying the Space Shuttle. Don't get me wrong, the shuttles have provided very necessary lessons in manned-space exploration and LEO operations, but the program is almost 30 years old and has been a politicized boondoggle from the beginning. If the shuttles had actually become the quick-cycle space planes they were sold as, then maybe I would say continue the program. However, as it stands now, the shuttle program had its time. Now its time for our nation (and species) to evolve in terms of space exploration. This, of course, is just my humble opinion.

      For the record, I'd like to thank the shuttle crews for their years of service as well.

      --
      Motorcycles, Robots, Space Gossip and More!
  2. really? by Thud457 · · Score: 5, Funny

    final official mission?

    WTF are Billy-Bob and Jethro going to take it for a joyride when Ferris foolishly leaves it at a downtown Chicago parking garage?

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    1. Re:really? by Binestar · · Score: 5, Informative

      Atlantis is the "Emergency Rescue" shuttle for the last 2 missions, so it is possible she could fly up and recover astronauts stranded due to tile damage in one of the last 2 missions.

      --
      Do you Gentoo!?
  3. blue book value sucks by SethJohnson · · Score: 4, Funny



    Should have sold it way sooner. With that many miles, it's going to be hard to sell on Craigslist. Best might be to sell it to an unwary eBayer sight-unseen. "broken odometer"

    Seth

    --
    $5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
  4. For Sale by KiwiCanuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    1985 Space Shuttle (Atlantis), good condition, auto, A/C, seats 5, 52,250lbs payload, 120 million miles ("highway"), very fast ride 17,320mph, many new upgrades, serious enquiries only.

    1. Re:For Sale by exley · · Score: 4, Informative

      The cost to pick up one of the shuttles is almost $30 million. They aren't being sold (at this point anyway); that number is allegedly just the cost to clean up the shuttle (removing hazardous materials, etc.), get it display-worthy, and transport it to its final location.

      http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/25/space.shuttles.retirement/index.html

  5. It will all be worth it... by mr_nazgul · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Space is a dangerous challenge, but the rewards will be worth it. In the end, all of man kind will benefit.
    "A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner."

    --
    Good.. Bad.. I'm the guy with the gun.
  6. Re:How much of the it is 25yrs old? by the_macman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've actually been inside the Atlantis. I was lucky enough to receive the VIP tour. I'm gonna glow your mind. The technicians there say *every inch* of wire is removed and closely examined after every launch. So yea, I would agree with OP, the shuttle basically gets gutted after launch. How much is replaced after each inspection I can't say.

    Fun fact: the shuttle bay doors are only designed to be opened in space. If opened on earth their own weight would rip the hinges apart. During inspection the doors are supported by huge braces. :D
    Oblig Picture:
    http://imgur.com/7pBjO.jpg

      http://imgur.com/qzxT6.jpg

      http://imgur.com/2SPRA.jpg

      http://imgur.com/EUxbD.jpg

  7. Re:can they use it for ISS space? spare parts? by phaggood · · Score: 4, Funny

    It should be parked outside just beyond the 'porch' they installed a while back; preferably sans wheels and up on cinder blocks.