STS-135: Final Launch of Atlantis and the Space Shuttle Program.

[MacNut]

With the ISS built now, who is funding it's upkeep. I assume the US has the most money invested in it but do we have a lot of pull in keeping it in orbit.

 

[iJohnHenry]

With the ISS built now, who is funding it's upkeep. I assume the US has the most money invested in it but do we have a lot of pull in keeping it in orbit.

Sorry, but the upkeep is beyond the ability of the U.S. government to manage, due to other concerns. *coughwarsdebtceilinghealthcareetccough*

 

[MacNut]

Sorry, but the upkeep is beyond the ability of the U.S. government to manage, due to other concerns. *coughwarsdebtceilinghealthcareetccough*

We don't have a ship to even get to the station, so how can we demand it be kept in orbit. The US might want to keep it there past 2020 but I don't see how we have any pull in keeping it up there.

 

[iJohnHenry]

We don't have a ship to even get to the station, so how can we demand it be kept in orbit. The US might want to keep it there past 2020 but I don't see how we have any pull in keeping it up there.

Just you wait 'till the Ruskies step up to the plate, to extend it's life.

Then you will see some action.

 

[MacNut]

Just you wait 'till the Ruskies step up to the plate, to extend it's life.

Then you will see some action.

The Russians are already talking about building a new ship.

 

[PracticalMac]

Which is why a LEO only vehicle is a waste... But, I have a feeling the ISS could last longer than 2020. It's still talked about being a pivotal refueling point for future vehicles. Endeavour tested out a new docking maneuver to be used by the Orion capsule and Atlantis delivered parts for future refueling testing.

I agree we need a HLV, but more importantly is the ISS.
It will last for decades, but if very inexpensive, routine flights up to ISS will not happen, forget any political support for HLV. (the way those idiots in Washington cant balance the budget, it may be years before anything solid happens.)


I am hoping a scaled up SpaceShip 2 carrying a crew of 2 up, up to 7 down, can be possible. Of course it will need a lot more thrust that might be achieved with SRB packs (as used on Delta's).

 

[PracticalMac]

We don't have a ship to even get to the station, so how can we demand it be kept in orbit. The US might want to keep it there past 2020 but I don't see how we have any pull in keeping it up there.

Just you wait 'till the Ruskies step up to the plate, to extend it's life.

Then you will see some action.

Ruskies are already keeping it in orbit, using the Progress resupply ships.

The EU also has their own resupply ships with orbit boost, into service in 2010 using Ariean 5 rockets.

The Russians are already talking about building a new ship.

Do tell!

 

[quagmire]

Here are what Discovery and Endeavour currently look like as NASA transfers Discovery back to the Orbiter Processing Facility and Endeavour is transferred to the VAB.

 

[MacNut]

So why are they pulling them apart?

 

[quagmire]

So why are they pulling them apart?

That is normal procedure to remove the main engines, OMS pods, and reaction control system after each flight.

The main engines are being stored for future use. Broken ones will be installed when they go on display. The OMS pods and RCS are sent off for cleaning, etc.

 

[MacNut]

I know the engines are rebuilt before each flight. My question is are they going to display stripped down shuttles with fake dummy parts or will they bring them back to stock flight configuration.

 

[quagmire]

I know the engines are rebuilt before each flight. My question is are they going to display stripped down shuttles with fake dummy parts or will they bring them back to stock flight configuration.

Like I stated above, broken engines that can't be rebuilt anymore will be installed when the Shuttle's go on display. The ones that are still functioning will be stored for possible future use.

I am sure once the OMS pods and RCS are cleaned they will be reinstalled onto the Shuttle's.

My question is NASA going to keep the battle scars on the shuttle's or will they be cleaned up for display. I hope they keep the scars on the Shuttle's...

 

[MacNut]

I also hope that they will be truly on display, not just look at it hanging there but be able to look into the cockpit. Don't just make these statues that you can only view from a distance.

 

[quagmire]

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I also hope that they will be truly on display, not just look at it hanging there but be able to look into the cockpit. Don't just make these statues that you can only view from a distance.

I suspect they will be hanging at least Discovery will. In one of NASA's updates on Disovery, they are making the landing gear remotely operated.

 

[MacNut]

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I suspect they will be hanging at least Discovery will. In one of NASA's updates on Disovery, they are making the landing gear remotely operated.

And that is just stupid. The whole idea of putting these things on display is so the public can get up close and view them. Leave them on the ground and let people walk up to it.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I am hoping a scaled up SpaceShip 2 carrying a crew of 2 up, up to 7 down, can be possible. Of course it will need a lot more thrust that might be achieved with SRB packs (as used on Delta's).

Scaled Composites (the company that makes the Virgin Galactic spacecraft,) has already stated that they would work on a "SpaceShipThree" that would be orbital after SpaceShipTwo is successful. SS2 isn't orbital-capable largely due to lack of heat shielding. A simple "up and down" flight at Mach 3 doesn't create nearly as much heat as a re-entry speed Mach 25 flight. So it's a lot simpler to make a suborbital craft. (all suborbital spacecraft prior to SpaceShipOne were designed to be fast-moving as well - X-15 was designed to go Mach 6+, Mercury was designed to be both suborbital AND orbital.)

One working theory was to make a craft that was similar to SS2, but with better heat-shielding, and put a booster on the back. (See Flightglobal blog entry for an artist's concept of what it would look like.)

 

[obeygiant]

For fans of the shuttle program this should not be missed. sound is amazing.

YouTube: video

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

8.5 Minutes of my life, that I'm perfectly fine with not getting back.

Thanks, mate!

 

[MacNut]

I have seen this before but never with the enhanced sound. I do miss the shuttle program

 

[quagmire]

I am mad that I won't be able to come home and see Discovery land at Dulles and be moved over to the air and space museum. Would be an awesome experience to see the 2nd to last time we would see a Shuttle on top of a 747.....

 

[ucfgrad93]

For fans of the shuttle program this should not be missed. sound is amazing.

YouTube: video

Saw this a couple of days ago. Amazing footage.

 

[obeygiant]

Space shuttle Discovery arrives in Washington

The space shuttle Discovery landed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on Tuesday after a series of nostalgic fly-bys on the back of a NASA Boeing 747, bringing whoops of pride and tears to the eyes of space fans and astronauts alike.

The flight took the shuttle from Florida's Kennedy Space Center to the Washington area, where it will spend retirement as a museum piece at the Smithsonian Institution's air and space facility in Chantilly, Virginia, near Dulles.

"It's a very emotional experience and I'm sorry this nation is out of the space exploration business for a while," Discovery veteran astronaut Joseph Allen said.

Crowds of space fans watched the shuttle fly past from the space center, the National Mall and the Pentagon, where a crowd of service members, from privates to admirals and generals, poured outside to watch the aircraft pass by, CNN's Barbara Starr reported.

People snapped pictures, while drivers on nearby roads slowed to watch the spectacle and honk their horns in salute.

The shuttle took to the sky for its final flight mounted on top of a specially modified Boeing 747.

As it left Florida at first light, it saluted the past and all those who were part of the United States' shuttle program, flying over launchpad 39A, down the beach and over the space center's visitor complex before heading north.

Over Washington, it circled the National Mall three times, prompting repeated cheers from onlookers, before heading to Dulles

Crowds turned out at Dulles to see the shuttle, including some families who had camped in the parking lot for a couple of hours, according to CNN's Lizzie O'Leary. As the shuttle came into view, flying low, cheers erupted.

The spacecraft is the oldest of the three remaining orbiters and clocked more than 148 million miles on its missions.

Its last commander, Steve Lindsey, and five others who flew on mission 133 in February, 2011, came out to say goodbye.

"Bittersweet is an overused word, but it is sad," Lindsey said.

With every step toward retirement, the shuttle fleet becomes more a part of history. In 30 years of flying, there were grand accomplishments and heart-wrenching tragedies. A space flying machine with wings, it was like nothing ever built.

But dwelling in that past would be a mistake, Lindsey said.

"We've got to move on; we've got to make sure that spaceflight doesn't die in this nation," he said. "We still have (the) space station going, but if we don't get ourselves heavy lift, get going with exploration or part of what I'm working on - the commercial program - then we risk losing this as a nation, and I don't want to do that."

In some ways, the past is meeting the future. Just a few miles to the south at Cape Canaveral, Space X is in its final preparations to launch its Dragon spacecraft. It is a hugely crucial test scheduled for the end of April. Space X hopes to be the first commercial company to rendezvous and then berth with the International Space Station.

One last time on the 747.

 

[quagmire]

One last time on the 747.

For Discovery yeah, but Enterprise and Endeavour will need piggy back rides to their destination....

And I saw it depart KSC at the Landing Facility. I created a thread in the community forums.

 

[BornAgainMac]

It is amazing you strap on a space shuttle on the back of a 747 and expect it to work. I am more amazed at that feat than seeing a shuttle launch.

 

[quagmire]

Enterprise is on the Intrepid museum.

But, this happens first......

People will be happy that the repair only cost $5......