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NASA Sets Dates For Space Shuttle Finale
coondoggie writes "After some debate, NASA today said it has set the final two launch dates for its venerable space shuttles: Nov. 1 for space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission, and Feb. 26, 2011, for the liftoff of shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission. NASA said the dates needed to be adjusted because critical payload hardware for STS-133 will not be ready in time to support the planned Sept. 16 launch."
I sure hope NASA does a better job with their finale, then the producers of Lost did with theirs.
This certainly looks like it's a big experiment
Let's hope the last minute changes only make it better.
how long until
Also there is 1 more at the end of that? the back up shuttle will go up at the end with a light crew?.
It's fine if they want to have a grand finale, but I still think it's safer to just fly the thing back down to earth in one piece.
When I first read the title "... Space Shuttle Finale", I thought imagined that they intended to set the two remaining shuttles up at the same time, and then on reentry cause them to come down together in a massive game of chicken.
âoeAny society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
It will be sad to see the fleet retired...nothing quite like watching the shuttle take off. It's quite possibly the loudest thing you will ever hear on Earth.
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...we are Russia's Bitch!
When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
The backup shuttle is for emergencies only. It has to be ready to go, but (if all goes well) shouldn't actually launch.
yo dawg, heard you like space elevators so i put a space elevator in your space elevator and elevated it into space.
I'm planning on going to see the last shuttle launch. I've never seen one before.
I'm sad to see this in my time. I always hoped we would be pushing farther out into space, not ending our involvement in it in my life time. I really hope this isn't the end of the USA as a space faring country.
Funny. I always thought "deep space" was like "other star systems". So I looked it up.
One definition: any region of outer space beyond the system of the earth and moon
And another: space beyond the limits of the solar system
I'm guessing he meant the former definition since it's such a short timeframe.
Just thought I'd share!
Karma: NaN
After Space X's Falcon 9 blew up taking half of Florida with it and costing a billion dollars at that we'll never get back to space. Our only hope is spending another 9 billion and five more years with Ares. Only NASA and it's bloated contractor costs can truly open space for all. It's too bad we gave commercial space flight the monopoly on space flight back in the 60s. Only if NASA had led the way for the last 50 years we'd be at Mars already. Total Recall would've been a documentary.
Truly, we are doomed.
makes me nostalgic. a long time ago this was seen as a shining beacon of capitalist supremacy first, and a scientific marvel second. Buran came and went, but the shuttle endured. the cosmodrome practically paid for itself on a global stage with satellites from near and far and even from the very same country it once locked horns with, and the shuttle still remained. shuttle missions brought new technologies, new achievements, and some of the most spectacular tragedies science has ever been privilege to witness. Im anxious to see what supersedes it
Good people go to bed earlier.
All we need to do is boost Canadarm to the level required to operate a giant slingshot to send spacecrafts into space. That's still better than a cannon!
But I heard they want to use it at the end and have Russian be the back up.
The space shuttle was an incredibly overpriced way of launching cargo and people into low orbit.
Perhaps now the money that was overpaid for transport will be better spent on actual science.
And if NASA buys launches from private firms, then NASA can help kick-start an efficient private launch industry.
So 2 days after i book a £600 holiday to florida to watch sts-133 on september the 16th, they postpone the launch till november 1st. Why couldn't they do this last week? AAAAAARRRRRGGHH.
(1.21 gigawatts) / (88 miles per hour) = 30 757 874 newtons
OK, I definitely know all the arguments and feelings about Rush Limbaugh, but seriously, please take a look at what he pointed out today:
He contends that NASA isn't moving the dates because of equipment issues, but to help protect the sea turtle hatchlings. Seriously!
There are efforts to move thousands of sea turtle eggs from gulf coastal waters affected by the BP spill to a location "somewhere near Cape Canaveral". There are also "lighting bans" in effect for many coastal areas to help prevent disrupting the migration habits of the sea turtles. An article I found titled "Coastal Protection Of Sea Turtles In Florida" states:
The next shuttle launch is set for Nov 1, 2010, the day after the ban ends, and the second launch is scheduled for Feb 26, 2011, two days before the ban resumes.
So, is it really an equipment issue, is it to protect sea turtles, or is it just coincidence?
My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!