Comments on: Only 11 Space Shuttle Missions Remain http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/ Space and astronomy news Sun, 8 Nov 2009 10:14:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: alphonso richardson http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-20018 alphonso richardson Fri, 09 May 2008 12:50:17 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-20018 Ahh, all good things must come to an end.... Looks like I'll never get to see a launch - I never got to see Concorde either. 2 examples of human desing elegance (for their time) & ingenuity. I've said before, the shuttle is a bit long in the tooth now, but it's a testament it's been around for as long as it has, especially as its safety record ( in terms of corners cut as well as lives lost), hasn't placed it on a good footing. But realistically, I think the fleet has long past its due & should slide gracefully to one side. Ahh, all good things must come to an end….
Looks like I'll never get to see a launch – I never got to see Concorde either.
2 examples of human desing elegance (for their time) & ingenuity.
I've said before, the shuttle is a bit long in the tooth now, but it's a testament it's been around for as long as it has, especially as its safety record ( in terms of corners cut as well as lives lost), hasn't placed it on a good footing.
But realistically, I think the fleet has long past its due & should slide gracefully to one side.

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19903 Al Hall Thu, 08 May 2008 07:52:32 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19903 Pedro - Without mentioning money, resources, and focus (manpower), a lot of the STS missions appeared to be nothing more than acting as a trucking company... After the 3rd or 4th launch they should have started thinking about passing it on to private companies. The satellite thing, that is.. From what I remember, we used the shuttle more often to put up satellites than anything else. A rocket would have been cheaper. But what did we do? We built more shuttles.. Don't get me wrong... I am very happy that the shuttle came to be.. and it has many achievements..... I have been 'face-to-face' with Enterprise (the test shuttle).. It is very impressive. Hard to believe they can get such a huge thing off the ground, let alone, into space. My hats off to the shuttle program.. http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/ Pedro -

Without mentioning money, resources, and focus (manpower), a lot of the STS missions appeared to be nothing more than acting as a trucking company… After the 3rd or 4th launch they should have started thinking about passing it on to private companies. The satellite thing, that is.. From what I remember, we used the shuttle more often to put up satellites than anything else. A rocket would have been cheaper. But what did we do? We built more shuttles..
Don't get me wrong… I am very happy that the shuttle came to be.. and it has many achievements….. I have been 'face-to-face' with Enterprise (the test shuttle).. It is very impressive. Hard to believe they can get such a huge thing off the ground, let alone, into space.
My hats off to the shuttle program..

http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/

]]> By: Pedro http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19826 Pedro Wed, 07 May 2008 15:23:26 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19826 I would say 'it's about time' but the perspectives for the future seems a bit desapointing. In early 60's Kennedy announce that we would go to the moon. 10 years was enough to make it happen. Now, 40 yrs later, somehow tentativily, whe're returning to the moon. And Mars? And beyond Mars? Should we blaim the shutle missions for that? I think without the shutle we would simply keep sending satelites and nothing more, learning zero about space traveling. I would say 'it's about time' but the perspectives for the future seems a bit desapointing.

In early 60's Kennedy announce that we would go to the moon. 10 years was enough to make it happen.

Now, 40 yrs later, somehow tentativily, whe're returning to the moon. And Mars? And beyond Mars?

Should we blaim the shutle missions for that? I think without the shutle we would simply keep sending satelites and nothing more, learning zero about space traveling.

]]> By: Astrofiend http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19775 Astrofiend Wed, 07 May 2008 03:38:47 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19775 Bring on STS-125 (Hubble)! The ISS can take a running jump. It is sad to see the shuttle go - it is a veritable icon of the space age, along with the Saturn V and other major triumphs of engineering, despite what may be said about it's cost. I must say I grew up watching those images of the shuttle and it 'defined' space and space exploration for me in my formative years. I think it would be easier if there were something in line to replace it that seemed like an obvious step forward, but that is a long time away - we'll have explored Pluto with New Horizons before that happens! Bring on STS-125 (Hubble)! The ISS can take a running jump.

It is sad to see the shuttle go – it is a veritable icon of the space age, along with the Saturn V and other major triumphs of engineering, despite what may be said about it's cost. I must say I grew up watching those images of the shuttle and it 'defined' space and space exploration for me in my formative years.

I think it would be easier if there were something in line to replace it that seemed like an obvious step forward, but that is a long time away – we'll have explored Pluto with New Horizons before that happens!

]]> By: Cheech http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19754 Cheech Wed, 07 May 2008 01:15:33 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19754 Talking about space shuttles, can anyone tell me when they launch shuttles into space for no return, where they get fuel and energy to burn? Talking about space shuttles, can anyone tell me when they launch shuttles into space for no return, where they get fuel and energy to burn?

]]> By: Nancy Atkinson http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19736 Nancy Atkinson Tue, 06 May 2008 21:05:19 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19736 BR- Thanks for noticing that omission -- its been fixed! BR- Thanks for noticing that omission — its been fixed!

]]> By: BR http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19733 BR Tue, 06 May 2008 20:51:04 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19733 Since you note Richard Arnold, you might want to point out that Joseph Acaba is also an Educator Astronaut. Both are flying on STS-119. Since you note Richard Arnold, you might want to point out that Joseph Acaba is also an Educator Astronaut. Both are flying on STS-119.

]]> By: Brian V http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19724 Brian V Tue, 06 May 2008 20:31:02 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19724 I'd say "it's about time". The shuttle is 1970's technology flying in an age that requires faster, cheaper, and more practical craft. And then there's the safety issue... I only hope the remaining astronauts come home safe on these creaky old craft. As Al Hall says above, more money into exploration would be great. With the advances in robotics and computers, imagine what could be done with the next-gen of unmanned space probes! The recent landing on Titan could just be the start of a new golden age of solar system exploration. I'd say "it's about time". The shuttle is 1970's technology flying in an age that requires faster, cheaper, and more practical craft.

And then there's the safety issue… I only hope the remaining astronauts come home safe on these creaky old craft.

As Al Hall says above, more money into exploration would be great. With the advances in robotics and computers, imagine what could be done with the next-gen of unmanned space probes! The recent landing on Titan could just be the start of a new golden age of solar system exploration.

]]> By: Ross http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19719 Ross Tue, 06 May 2008 20:06:38 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19719 It is going to be sad when the Shuttles no longer launch. I think then we will have to reliy on some old pencil rockets there after to get into space. It is going to be sad when the Shuttles no longer launch. I think then we will have to reliy on some old pencil rockets there after to get into space.

]]> By: owen http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19715 owen Tue, 06 May 2008 19:33:02 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19715 its so sad to say goodbye to the space shuttle its so sad to say goodbye to the space shuttle

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/06/only-11-space-shuttle-missions-remain/comment-page-1/#comment-19714 Al Hall Tue, 06 May 2008 19:25:22 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=14084#comment-19714 I'll go with the "It's about time!" group. Time to put the focus (and money) back into exploration. The ISS is a good thing, and the shuttle has had some usefulness, but it's time to get back to main reason for the existence of NASA (in my opinion).. Exploration!.. I'll go with the "It's about time!" group. Time to put the focus (and money) back into exploration. The ISS is a good thing, and the shuttle has had some usefulness, but it's time to get back to main reason for the existence of NASA (in my opinion).. Exploration!..

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