Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

NASA To Delay Endeavour By 10 Days

Posted by Soulskill on from the to-boldly-go-when-traffic's-not-too-heavy dept.

gabbo529 writes "NASA announced recently it will be delaying the upcoming launch of the space shuttle Endeavour — the final one for the well-traveled spacecraft. Endeavour was originally slated to launch April 19, but due to a scheduling conflict with a Russian supply vehicle, NASA is delaying it. Likely, NASA will delay it 10 days to April 29, but nothing is official yet."

28 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. Wish I could go by bhcompy · · Score: 1

    Saw the Endeavour at it's first launch from the VIP pad.. wish I was still in the industry to do it for the last. /rip space program

    1. Re:Wish I could go by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      You could always go to Russia and watch a launch there. They'll still be sending people up.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    2. Re:Wish I could go by bhcompy · · Score: 1

      Sure, but going to the first and last launch of a vessel that will be shuttered for tech that's even more ancient would mean more. I can see ICBM launches all the time at Vandenberg

    3. Re:Wish I could go by khallow · · Score: 1

      What's the point of having a really sweet ride, if you can't afford to fly it anywhere? As I see it, if the US's space program dies, then the Shuttle killed it. As I see it, there's no place for the Shuttle whether the US chooses to have a space program or not.

    4. Re:Wish I could go by vlm · · Score: 1

      Sure, but going to the first and last launch of a vessel that will be shuttered for tech that's even more ancient would mean more. I can see ICBM launches all the time at Vandenberg

      Soyuz-TMA is much more modern than an ancient space shuttle. And not by a small amount either. The new TMA-M revision is younger than my youngest kid... in comparison the shuttle was designed before my parents first met... And I "waited until later in life" to have kids.

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
    5. Re:Wish I could go by vlm · · Score: 1

      What's the point of having a really sweet ride, if you can't afford to fly it anywhere? As I see it, if the US's space program dies, then the Shuttle killed it. As I see it, there's no place for the Shuttle whether the US chooses to have a space program or not.

      Maybe rephrased a little: After all the budget cuts, the only purpose remaining for the shuttle was to visit the station, and the only purpose of the station was to have the shuttle visit it. Once one is gone, the other will rapidly follow. And at least superficially we'll never be able to do either again, unless we do both, which makes it quite unlikely. Looks like we're leaving the universe to more advanced countries, like China, Europe...

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
    6. Re:Wish I could go by bhcompy · · Score: 1

      Sure, but it's still just an ICBM. The Shuttle launch is a completely different animal to watch lift off

    7. Re:Wish I could go by vlm · · Score: 1

      Sure, but it's still just an ICBM. The Shuttle launch is a completely different animal to watch lift off

      I think we are well out of the limits of logical discussion about tangible things, but I wish you well anyway. I'd agree with you if it didn't burn chemical fuel, or did horizontal takeoff, or the (manned?) boosters flew themselves back to the launch site for reuse on the next launch, or it used a launch loop or something equally exotic, but ... the physics and chemistry are pretty much the same.

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
    8. Re:Wish I could go by Frangible · · Score: 1

      The TMA represents minor revisions to the original Soyuz. It is still a cramped, mostly-obsolete capsule on top of an ICBM.

      Both the Buran and the STS are more advanced designs, and the STS has been continually updated with stuff like a glass cockpit. The capabilities of the STS and Buran far exceed that of the Soyuz.

      Not trying to bash the Soyuz, but it's like comparing a Geo Metro to a semi tractor.

    9. Re:Wish I could go by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      Except that semi is no longer on the road, and the Geo still is. Besides, the Geo is a lot more fuel efficient and reliable.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. Re:Another sad day for space by gad_zuki! · · Score: 1

    >Maybe that will kick US ass...

    Yawn. Wake me when they're doing the space science we're doing. Where are their versions of just the stuff we've done in the past decade? When are they launcing a hubble or a Stardust or an LCROSS or a Spirit or a Cassini or a Mars Global Surveyor or Deep Space 1? What part of the ISS have they built or ferried? Where is their competitive private industry changing the face of space exploration?

    I love how the haters keep brining up the moon like its this great prize. Err, it a big universe out there.

    Let me guess, you're just another pissant whiner who doesn't care two shits about space science or exploration, but has this NASCAR-like menality of "vroom vroom, machines go fast!!! USA #1!!' Guess what? Expect to be disappointed from now on. Go watch a monster truck show and leave space to the adults. Thanks.

  3. Delay it one more week, Please! by Scyber · · Score: 1

    I'll be in FL then, and I'd love to see the launch. I've always wanted to see one of the launches, but never made it down there.

    1. Re:Delay it one more week, Please! by bhcompy · · Score: 1

      They're awesome and worth it, if not just for the Kennedy Space Center tour

    2. Re:Delay it one more week, Please! by musicalmicah · · Score: 1

      Do it! I once lived 80 miles south of the Space Center and the launches were still huge events there. Everyone in the neighborhood would wander out to their driveways (but not the lawns, damn fire ants!) to watch that stream of fire streak through the sky.

    3. Re:Delay it one more week, Please! by Miamicanes · · Score: 1

      I'm going to the launch, too. Realistically, how close do you have to BE in order to really experience it (hear the engines, be able to see it without binoculars, or at least without expensive binoculars, etc)? The closest I've ever come to seeing a shuttle launch in person was back around '94, when there was a night launch on a rare cloudless night, and I was able to stand on the roof (in Miami) and see a small orange blob rising over the horizon for about 14 seconds.

    4. Re:Delay it one more week, Please! by musicalmicah · · Score: 1

      You can hear it from 80 miles away, though you can't see much detail. You might get a pretty good vantage from Titusville or the other suburb-y places near the space center. There's lots of beach-front on the Indialantic within five miles of the launchpad.

  4. "Launch Party" by LoudMusic · · Score: 1

    Sucks for anyone who's scheduled launch parties or travel plans to view it in person. Though, delays are a shuttle launch staple, so anyone making those kind of plans should be prepared for that sort of thing.

    --
    No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
    1. Re:"Launch Party" by k6mfw · · Score: 1
      >Sucks for anyone who's scheduled launch parties or travel plans to view it in person.

      you simply have to deal with it. continue to sleep in whatever motel (or car) or better yet RV, eat whatever, mitigate time off from work (somewhat unpredictable). From talking with people that witnessed STS launches, the SRB flame is really bright, it's quiet when it leaves the pad then the sound comes roaring. Dammit, I'm going though the trip won't be cheap. I heard the mosquitos are merciless.

      Viewing Soyuz launches are not as big and loud as Shuttles but it looks like a real festive environment with hundreds of people all around the launch pad (with the rocket venting boil off O2), digitaries wanting pics with the cosmonauts, various rituals with Russian generals and priests prior to boarding spacecraft. It seems to have it's own kind of excitement. Unlike Shuttle, I heard it is rare Soyuz have launch delays, i.e. there is no "weather" in Baikonur.

      --
      mfwright@batnet.com
    2. Re:"Launch Party" by Morty · · Score: 1

      Fly Southwest. They do penalty-free rebooking.

      Find out when the launch window opens and closes, and plan to be in Florida for the duration.

      Book your hotel and car for the duration. If it launches before the last day, you can cancel the rest of the window. In most cases, you can cancel with 24 hours' notice with no fee. With less than 24 hours' notice, you pay for one day.

      Watch the launch schedule on websites like spaceflightnow.com. If the schedule changes, prepare to change your plans ASAP.

      If the launch is delayed while you are in Florida, there is plenty to do. The KSC visitor's center will take annual memberships for just a little more than the cost of a one-day visit, so you can go there multiple days. Or you can go to a public beach. Or go on a riverboat tour. Or go down to the Everglades. Or you can spend lots of money at one of the many theme parks in Orlando.

      Unfortunately, sometimes the window closes after you get there, with no launch. This happened to us for STS-133. If you have the vacation and the funds, you can consider going back.

  5. Re:Another sad day for space by khallow · · Score: 1

    I love how the haters keep brining up the moon like its this great prize. Err, it a big universe out there.

    It's worth noting that the Earth is by far the most valuable real estate in the Solar System. The Moon happens to be really close (for example, it takes less delta v to put something in Earth orbit from the Moon than it does from Earth and it is a bit over a light second from Earth, making it easy to communicate with stuff on the Moon) while no other serious bodies are. It also has resources (such as oxygen, titanium, aluminum, silicon, etc) and likely resources (such as gold, platinum group metals, water and other interesting volatiles). So yes, the Moon is a great, big prize.

  6. Shuttle launch delayed by Brassrat70s · · Score: 1

    Maybe they don't have kosher for passover meals?

  7. Go visit KSC by DeadBugs · · Score: 1

    Wow bummer. I was just there last week to see her sitting on the Launch Pad. Even though the hotel I was staying at was over 40 miles away they have been booked for months. Everyone should get to KSC and see the space shuttle on the launch pad before the last one goes up. They are already taking apart one of the 2 shuttle launch pads :-(

    --
    http://www.kubuntu.org/
  8. Re:Another sad day for space by Aqualung812 · · Score: 1

    It's worth noting that the Earth is by far the most valuable real estate in the Solar System.

    Per square kilometer, yes. By object, the Sun has it beat in terms of value.

    --
    Grammer Nazis - I mod you "troll" unless you actually add something on-topic. Yes, I know I have mispellings in my sig.
  9. Re:Another sad day for space by khallow · · Score: 1

    Yawn. Wake me when they're doing the space science we're doing. Where are their versions of just the stuff we've done in the past decade? When are they launcing a hubble or a Stardust or an LCROSS or a Spirit or a Cassini or a Mars Global Surveyor or Deep Space 1? What part of the ISS have they built or ferried? Where is their competitive private industry changing the face of space exploration?

    I agree strongly. Any serious activity in space requires doing things in space.

  10. Re:Another sad day for space by khallow · · Score: 1

    Per square kilometer, yes. By object, the Sun has it beat in terms of value.

    Brilliant comeback. We do need the Sun more than we need the Earth. Still, as real estate, there's not much you can do with the Sun directly.

  11. oh well by AmigaMMC · · Score: 1

    That sucks, I was flying my parents from Italy to see the launch.

  12. Re:other uses for retired shuttle by lalcan · · Score: 1

    I think the last shuttle should be left connected to the ISS, after all, in space there's hardly any erosion, so it could be left there just in case it's required for any other spacial activity in the future, it could be used to kickstart the mars travel, as a warehouse, anything, while, once it's grounded, it will never lift off again...

    My three cents.

  13. Re:other uses for retired shuttle by Vectormatic · · Score: 1

    the shuttle isnt designed to stay up for any long period of time, it leaks air (badly) and its power suply isnt specced for long trips. Even if just idling up there, it would need an active cooling system to prevent serious damage from over/underheating.

    i guess you could use it as a meteor shield, but it won't take long before that giant uncontrolable floating heap of spacejunk becomes more of a menace to your station then the meteorites

    --
    People, what a bunch of bastards