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NASA Announces Final Homes of Shuttle Fleet
PyroMosh writes "NASA administrator Charles Bolden just announced the final homes for the four remaining Space Shuttle Orbiters in a ceremony at Kennedy Space Center today commemorating the 30th anniversary of the first Shuttle launch.
The Shuttle Atlantis will remain at NASA's home of Shuttle Launch operations — Kennedy Space Center.
Endeavour will be displayed at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, just miles from where she was assembled.
Discovery will be moved to the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum in Virginia outside of Washington DC — the very hangar that Enterprise now occupies.
Finally, the Shuttle airframe prototype Enterprise will be moved from her current home to the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum in New York City."
It's good that we have a museum to put these historic artifacts into, but I would prefer that we have something to replace them with. That feeling is more intense when I see either a Saturn V or a LEM at one of the museums.
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Take a look: http://www.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/2008-election-map.html#/president?view=race08 Then look again at the list of cities getting a shuttle. Still surprised Houston wasn't chosen?
I'm not normally one to read politics into everything, but this...
How does it feel to be a liar with pants constantly on fire?
Why not send em to Titan?
The height of human achievement is now just a fading memory. We're so worried about our tax rates and privatization, that we don't even see what we're throwing it all away. Whatever avoids the chopping block will be a parody of itself, a case of "Let's play pretend."
Energia outbids them.
Yours in Murmansk,
K. Trout, C.
The Enterprise should go to San Fransisco. Future Starfleet Academy Cadets could use it for training & simulations.
And the problem is that they've gotten snubbed due to politics. Being reminded that the USS Intrepid (on display in NYC) was involved in the early days of the space program, I can understand one going to NYC. But the closest thing LA has to being involved is the fact that it is near Vandenburg AFB, where the shuttle almost launched from. Any claim about "locations being chosen for their value to the american public" is a load of bull. The entire middle of the country is nowhere near any of the shuttles with these chosen locations.
NASA needs to be given autonomy... they need to be given a long term goal (a generic one like "set up a moon colony as a dry run for a mars colony, then get to Mars", or "set up a mining outpost in the asteroid belt") and then left alone to decide the best way to achieve that. Having every president wanting to leave their mark on outer space like Kenedy did is irresponsible and leaves them with ever changing goals and a rotating set of tools to do the job. We've changed what vehicles they're supposed to be using two or three times now since they declared the end of the space shuttle. At this rate, an American vessel may never lift an astronaut in to space again. That's not even bringing congressional funding issues in to the mix...
Seriously? Three of the four shuttles on the East Coast? This is either politically biased or just more shit coming out of East Coast-centric government "thinkers".
Houston has a problem?
to obvious?
that, & why we're growing more hair (male & female), instead of monkeys growing less? fake weather? it's all in the book? chosen or frozen? rulers? yuk
I *told* them I'd have my garage cleared out in time. Screw you, Bolden!
That's the last time I buy hookers for a government official.
FL was snubbed when VP Johnson got NASA to put mission control in TX in the early 60's. That has cost central FL many jobs over the last 50 years, especially with the end of Apollo (mini depression in FL, thanks Congress). FL will again be seriously hit with the end of the Shuttle especially with so much space tourism going to New Mexico (but FL does have Space X).
At least FL got Atlantis!
Not much of a space shuttle, now is it. Not that NYC deserved a shuttle or anything. There's a video here, and info on the consolation prizes: http://motherboard.tv/2011/4/12/new-york-city-just-got-a-space-shuttle-okay-not-a-space-shuttle-but
I was worried that the Enterprise's new home would be parked outside and exposed to the elements and harsh smog of NYC. Thankfully, from the artist renderings it looks like she'll be enclosed in a glass visitor's building.
Well....thats a load of donkey/elephant doo-doo
I trully think its a dis-service to the populace of the Gulf Coast. Houston has handled the Mission Control for all space flights for 50 years. Even before the shuttles they were there. Every part of the shuttle service was handled as some point from Houston... Sad sad sad....
Now my wife is going to be all over my ass about that huge concrete pad I poured out back.
The shuttle headed for NYC is supposed to sit on the pier next to the Intrepid currently occupied by a Concorde. I haven't seen yet what is supposed to happen to the Concorde... I would consider flying out to NYC to see those two aircraft in the same museum.
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
FWIW they recently elected an openly homosexual mayor. While Texas itself is still very much in the cultural stone age, some regions are gradually starting to learn how to smelt copper...
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
For the Museum of Flight's new space wing, which is pretty much finished, with an available space for a Shuttle. But instead the museum will be getting a full fuselage Shuttle trainer. In a way this is actually better. The Shuttle can't be touched. However visitors will be able to go inside the trainer. Just as every astronaut who has ever flown the Shuttle has done.
Calling Enterprise "not a space shuttle" depends largely on how you look at it.
When it rolled off the assembly line, NASA had every intention of flying Enterprise in space. She *was* a spacecraft. She only lacked engines (Main Engines, OMS thrusters, and RCS jets), and thermal protection system, and a few minor internal components.
Unfortunately, between Enterprise's completion, and Columbia's completion, some internal structural design changes were made.
It was realized that making the necessary changes to Enterprise would be too costly, so they retrofitted the Shuttle Test Article STA-99 instead. That "not a space shuttle" became Challenger.
Touch everywhere, even when inappropriate.
New York: OK, the east cost is already represented and the central regions of the country have been left out so far. However you could argue that population density suggests the north east over the north west or the center regions. That is as plausible as politics. Now consider that New York City is the most popular tourist destination in the US. Now add that the Sea, Air and Space museum is the WW2 aircraft carrier the USS Intrepid. The Intrepid once fought along side an Enterprise, now she will carry one. I think compelling non-political arguments can be made for NYC/Intrepid.
I should have mentioned that the USS Intrepid also recovered some astronauts returning from space.
I was mistaken with respect to "carrying" the shuttle. Apparently the shuttle will have its own enclosure alongside the Intrepid.
That said, I wish the central regions of the country were getting something too. I am not arguing that NYC was the best choice, just that NYC/Intrepid is a very plausible choice and that politics is not a given.
Should just fire one off in some random direction into deep space for the one in a googolplex chance of confusing the hell out of some ETs.
deserved one more than NYC did.
The Air Force deserved to get one of the shuttles, even if it was the Enterprise. We still have the Apollo 15 CM, though - and that's something.
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Shuttle take YOU to final home.
Why not take two up and bring both crews back on one leaving the other stocked with survival supplies in orbit. We always talk about the fact that there is no viable lifeboat in the event a spacecraft becomes damaged. I'm sure there are a bunch of technical challenges, but if there were food, water, oxygen, etc. in orbit that could be a mission and lifesaver for the ISA and future programs. Maybe the orbiter could even be remotely operated to salvage, deorbit or even repair damaged satellites.
Greed is the root of all evil.
"Whats the problem? They already have the Columbia." -- Charles Bolden in private on Texas being snubbed.
Johnson space center should have gotten one before museums other than Kennedy. The Smithsonian already had one why did it need another?
How is it possible that Houston doesn't get one but Los Angeles does? Speaking as a Californian, this makes no sense. I'd like to see the completed rubric they used to make that decision.
The feds have extended their middle finger to Texas. As much as I may feel for all those fine NASA folks in Houston (no, seriously...) this raises my MQ (mirth quotient) to new levels. Maybe now that state will have enough reason to actually act on their petulant, empty threats to secede. Please?
Ah, this will be the first NASA ship that won't be at the Cosmosphere. They have Mercury, Gemini and Apollo Capsules. They have a few Russian capsules (not sure which exactly). They have an actual Titan rocket even. To bad :(
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Kennedy & Smithsonian sure, those make sense. But how did Intrepid and California Science Center beat out the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
I'm in Texas, Houston actually and I'm not happy. I think the one that's going to NYC should have come here. I don't see any point in worrying about politics or the opinions of trolls regarding Texas merit. I just keep thinking that if we'd been a little more careful and done a better job we'd have two more shuttles to disperse. It's unfortunate.
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I agree; there should be a mid-country location. NY and DC are close enough already. The heartland got shafted and should be pissed.
If not Texas, then how about Colorado?
Table-ized A.I.
How the fuck do you decide that NYC gets a shuttle instead of Houston? That's so screwed up I don't even know where to start. What the hell has NYC contributed to the shuttle program (or anything to do with space)?
How the fuck do you decide that NYC gets a shuttle instead of Houston? That's so screwed up I don't even know where to start. What the hell has NYC contributed to the shuttle program (or anything to do with space)?
Once more with feeling: Can you say "Grumman Aerospace" or "The early history of American Aviation", Dilbert? Try googling "Lunar Excursion Module", then "USS Intrepid". Geez, the ignorance of American achievement in aviation is staggering. Try looking up "Chance-Vought Aviation", Fairchild Aviation, Sikorsky, Republic Aviation, and maybe, well, skip them all and go to "LI Aviation Museum - Cradle of Aviation". Then look up LaGuardia Airport, Idlewild Airport, NY Marine Air Terminal, then Floyd Bennett Field, and Roosevelt Field (Lindberg ring a bell?). The early industry grew up where there was capital and a skilled workforce. The NY area was/is bristling with aviation pioneers, investors, and workmen. Add the surrounding tri-state area and the results jump even higher. That's how NYC got a shuttle - and as other have pointed out, the sheer number of people that will actually see it is higher there than anywhere else.
Grumman hasn't been in NYC since 1920, Chance-Vought was never in NYC, nor was Fairchild or Sikorsky. Lots of cities in the US "bristled" with aviation pioneers. Houston (a city I've only visited; I don't live there) contributed so much more to the concept, development, and operation of the US shuttle program than NYC it's just ridiculous.
The only argument you make that's relevant is that NYC will get a lot more visitors than Houston. That's not a reason that makes me happy that NYC got selected over Houston, but at least I understand it.
Way to shit all over all the NASA employees in Houston by passing us over for New York City, a city that never played any role in the US space program. Yes, we have a Saturn V rocket, but we are also home to Mission Control and the fact that cities like Chicago and New York were even considered is an insult to all the hard work and dedication put forth by everyone at the JSC.
No one cares what your captcha was
Houston TX, USA
Or does not understand there are things between New York and L.A. I mean come on! Three on the east coast and one on the west coast. I am so conflicted since I am so enthused about Cady Coleman, but so annoyed that Chicago was given the raspberries on this.
But will they keep one maintained and fueled up just in case of asteroid incursions or alien invasions?
For them not to send one to Houston is ludicrous!!! Houston has been the voice of the space program forever. They send one to New York? What did they do for the space program? Politics at is best. It is a shame pure and simple!! NASA should be ashamed of themselves!!!!!
All the cities and regions not connected to the space program should have been on the top of the list. What better way to spread the word than to showcasing the shuttles. As for existing space centers receiving these, it's kind of silly. They already have enough public dollars for space going into their communities. Moreover, the shuttles should be in easily accessible large urban areas where thousands of children can see them year round instead of remote locations where relatively few get to visit.
Seriously? What the hell does NYC have to do with the Shuttle? The people who built the shuttles, flew them, supported them from Mission Control, and yes even those who gave their lives on them were all from Houston.
Way to go NASA.
I think we should keep one or two for display and sell the rest to help pay off our debt.
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As a monument to bureaucracy. It also "landed" closer to Houston than the others.
It's the final irony of the whole space shuttle system that the space shuttles are not being left docked at the International Space Station to increase it's usable area. The whole premise of the system was flawed from the start -- launch massive amounts of well-tested hardware into space, and rather than leave it there where it may be useful in the future, bring it back to Earth when you could get the crew back in a tiny capsule. And from everyone who watches this old house or has ever tried to repair something very complicated, often it costs more to refurbish something like a space shuttle to use it again than to build it from scratch as new.
Anyway, the device is still very impressive. My family built the LEGO model of one recently, and it really helped me understand the amazing engineering that went in to it. If only we had used each one once and left it in orbit (with the external tank in orbit, too), we'd have a space infrastructure in near earth orbit 100X what we have, and that would all be raw material to reuse for new projects out there. And each new one produced over the last thirty years would have been better and better...
See also my comment:
"Jeff Bezos' Shot At Space: Both CATS and DOGS are needed... "
http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=62113&cid=5821178
A 21st century issue: the irony of technologies of abundance in the hands of those still thinking in terms of scarcity.