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NASA Sets Dates For Space Shuttle Finale

Posted by timothy on from the oh-but-they-always-stand-us-up dept.

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."

14 of 56 comments (clear)

  1. Lost by assertation · · Score: 4, Funny

    I sure hope NASA does a better job with their finale, then the producers of Lost did with theirs.

    1. Re:Lost by sharkey · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hopefully better than the Sopranos too. It's not good when the shuttle signal sudd

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      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  2. Crossing my fingers for AMS by JamesP · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This certainly looks like it's a big experiment

    Let's hope the last minute changes only make it better.

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  3. Also there is 1 more at the end of that? the back by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Also there is 1 more at the end of that? the back up shuttle will go up at the end with a light crew?.

  4. Uhh.... by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

  5. Oh... they mean the final flights... by ATestR · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

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    âoeAny society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
  6. Sadness by Pojut · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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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    Living With a Nerd
  7. Re:Also there is 1 more at the end of that? the ba by Elros · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The backup shuttle is for emergencies only. It has to be ready to go, but (if all goes well) shouldn't actually launch.

  8. Sigh by Dyinobal · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

  9. Hurray! by thue · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:Hurray! by DerekLyons · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And if NASA buys launches from private firms, then NASA can help kick-start an efficient private launch industry.

      NASA has been buying launchers and launches from private firms since roughly .002 seconds after NASA was founded, and if you'll look around you'll notice a distinct lack of an 'efficient' private launch industry. (Assuming that by 'efficient' you actually mean to say 'cheap'.) Adding a handful of flights per year to that total won't chnage much.
       
      And really, when it comes to government contracting on this level - there's a huge lock in effect. Whoever wins the COTS contract in the end is going to be the next Boeing - heavily dependent on government handouts and almost impossible to dislodge.

  10. Re:After That... by sycodon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Every Russian limo driver I've seen in the movies are really bad guys who are usually taking you to a very bad place.

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    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  11. Re:After That... by Mercano · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Our Russian mission commander is Pikov Andropov."

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    #include <signature.h>
  12. AAAAAAAAAARRRRRGHHH by Ginger+Unicorn · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

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