End of an era

[SeattleEd]

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.

I hope so. I would LOVE to be in space before I shuffle this mortal coil. Chemically induced doesn't count, either.

[Nostalgiabuff]

no money in the budget so it is proably unlikely that NASA will launch anything new in the near future
hey ealdret, you could always share your seat with Lance Bass.....he wanted to go on that private flight but could not raise the money or something

[saildog]

There is a derived benefit from a big project like space exploration or for that matter, curing cancer. We need something like the Apollo Program just like we needed it nearly 50 years ago.

If you have a few minute, listen to this speech by President Kennedy from Rice University in 1962.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouRbkBAOGEw#t=6m51s

His basic point is, "Let's go after Moby Dick....and bring along some tartar sauce.".

[Hector]

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

You guys use cell phones, watch TV, use computers, etc...right?

Well...take a good guess who places all those satellites up in orbit.

Yes...end of an era.

But don't despair...we already have other top secret being produced...just a matter of time...mankind's hunger for space travel will never die...

[TrueDave]

Hector-"mankind's hunger for space travel will never die"

I'd wager against that if Virtual Reality is "perfected" .
Sadly :-(

Good Point about the satilites. Who is servicing them?

[jimsmegos]

Personally I'm glad to see the shuttles get retired. They need to be, they've become too dangerous IMO. Plus36 years later and that is still all we've got? Not being a wise guy but considering the laws of technological improvements / growth we should have a much better craft. In the end I think we're better off with the private sector furthering research. That competitve spirit will take us much further than what a government ran agency can.

[Mikey]

Personally I'm glad to see the shuttles get retired. They need to be, they've become too dangerous IMO. Plus36 years later and that is still all we've got?.

I always thought the same thing

This "spaceship" was made when we were playing with Mego's .... and here today it's finally getting canned when we're middle aged collectors.

Kind of like the Jeep being invented in WW2 and was finally retired just before Desert Storm.

For all the money the Gov gets they can't invent something new after so many years ... At least fake it and paint it a different color

[Brazoo]

Personally I'm glad to see the shuttles get retired. They need to be, they've become too dangerous IMO. Plus36 years later and that is still all we've got? Not being a wise guy but considering the laws of technological improvements / growth we should have a much better craft. In the end I think we're better off with the private sector furthering research. That competitve spirit will take us much further than what a government ran agency can.

I've come around to this outlook as well. NASA's Constellation program was problematic. Private enterprise has the best reasons to make space travel better, safer and cheaper.

In answer to the question about servicing currant satellites (and U.S. astronauts manning the International Space Station) I believe the U.S. has plans to hitch rides with Russia after the last shuttle mission.

[johnmiic]

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

Actually Mike, when the shuttle was first rolled out it was perceived as a success partially because it looked like what American's thought a spaceship should look like.

The shuttle has had a long and troubled history. The original plan was a 2-part shuttle which would fly to a space station. A larger airplane would carry the shuttle, piggy-back, into the upper atmosphere, (like in Superman Returns), and it was supposed to detach and fly into orbit. When originally conceived Vietnam was in full swing so they nixed the idea of the 1st stage plane for budget reasons. With the advances we have made in areonautics tho I don't know why they can't go back to this idea now.

The shuttle did not get completed in time to save Skylab so we lost the original space-station part of the plan too. They decided instead to strap the shuttle onto boosters. It was an unpopular move tho as many engineers and astronauts will tell you the solid rocket boosters are not controllable. They fire-up and you let them go. If there are any problems you're stuck and can't shut them down. Only the 3 smaller engines on the shuttle itself are controlable.

Probably the best replacement for the space shuttle would be the Delta Clipper, (Single Stage Rocket Technology (SSRT) Delta Clipper-Experimental (DC-X), McDonnell Douglas-built rocket, 1/3-size prototype). This vehicle was being developed in the 1990's and they ran out of funding. They paired with NASA and NASA cancelled it after only 1 accident. This thing went straight up and down like a 1950's B-serial rocket. It hovered in the air like Salvage 1 or a ufo. It was a very promising vehicle. With the shuttles being retired the people who created it are trying to bring it back.

[Mikey]

Actually Mike, when the shuttle was first rolled out it was perceived as a success partially because it looked like what American's thought a spaceship should look like.

The shuttle has had a long and troubled history. The original plan was a 2-part shuttle which would fly to a space station. A larger airplane would carry the shuttle, piggy-back, into the upper atmosphere, (like in Superman Returns), and it was supposed to detach and fly into orbit. When originally conceived Vietnam was in full swing so they nixed the idea of the 1st stage plane for budget reasons. With the advances we have made in areonautics tho I don't know why they can't go back to this idea now.
]

I never knew that.

I always thought the only reason they strapped Enterprise to the jet was to test the landing.

I never knew that had original plans of launching it that way.

Makes one wonder ....... why can't they put a jet and shuttle together and just make one craft that can launch like an airplane ?

Guess it would be too big to take into space ?

[Zemo]

Hands down, the space shuttle was the biggest success in space history. Really if you think otherwise, you really don't know what your talking about.

[johnmiic]

Hands down, the space shuttle was the biggest success in space history. Really if you think otherwise, you really don't know what your talking about.

I have nothing against the shuttle. There were always bumps in the road getting into space but the shuttle was a workhorse. It did multiple tasks that no other spacecraft could ever do.

[Hector]

Hands down, the space shuttle was the biggest success in space history. Really if you think otherwise, you really don't know what your talking about.

I humbly disagree...