End of an era

[Zemo]

For now, the final frontier.

[SeattleEd]

You mean NASA is gone?

[thunderbolt]

last shuttle, it was cool to watch from my roof.

[SeattleEd]

^^Ahh. Hate being in the dark sometimes. Well, at least it was successful. Lucky you witnessed it live.

[BOTZWANA]

Please explain to those of us that live in MExico...How is this an end to an era?

[Zemo]

The space shuttle program is being decommissioned. This was the last mission of the Discovery shuttle — the Endeavor still has one flight left.

This is some history of the Discovery:
Discovery has flown 38 flights, completed 5,247 orbits, and has spent 322 days in orbit. Discovery is the orbiter fleet leader, having flown more flights than any other orbiter in the fleet, including four in 1985 alone. Discovery flew all three "return to flight" missions after the Challenger and Columbia disasters: STS-26 in 1986, STS-114 in 2005, and STS-121 in 2006. Discovery is presently flying the second to last space shuttle mission STS-133, having launched on (NET) Feb. 24, 2011.

[Brazoo]

Awesome thread - it IS the end of an era for sure.

I'm still optimistic about the future though.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

Wow. That seems really sad to me. Will there still be any space exploration from any other organisations?

[Zemo]

Wow. That seems really sad to me. Will there still be any space exploration from any other organisations?

Yes, But for now the Gov has put a hold on the program that was going to take us back to the moon and then farther. Private companies are starting to rev up.

[Werewolf]

That's depressing.

[SeattleEd]

Yes, But for now the Gov has put a hold on the program that was going to take us back to the moon and then farther. Private companies are starting to rev up.

Companies like Virgin Galactic?

Book a flight for $200K with $20K down. Anyone going?

[Mikey]

I always thought the space shuttle was a big waste of money and didn't even look very cool.

The Saturn-5 ..... Now that thing was cool in a 50's Caddy way !!!!!!!!

Bring back the Saturn V !!!!!!!!!

[Zemo]

Companies like Virgin Galactic?

Book a flight for $200K with $20K down. Anyone going?

Actually, many more than that. Virgin is into space tourism and if it takes off those prices will come way down over time.

Other companies are gearing to work with Nasa to further the space program.

[Zemo]

Actually, I have it wrong Atlantis will be the final launch. I forgot one was postponed last year.

"Endeavour is scheduled for one last launch in April, and Atlantis as early as June, according to media reports. At that point the United States will have no government-owned rocket to go to the space station."

[Zemo]

I always thought the space shuttle was a big waste of money and didn't even look very cool.

The Saturn-5 ..... Now that thing was cool in a 50's Caddy way !!!!!!!!

Bring back the Saturn V !!!!!!!!!

That was basically the next program.