As most of you know, today marked the end of the most traveled Space Shuttle in our existing fleet. Shortly before 12:00 this afternoon, the Space Shuttle Discovery touched down at the end of its final voyage.
I was kind of surprised that when I watched the landing, I got a little teary-eyed. I guess it finally hit me that, soon, the Shuttle Program will be no longer. I remember watching, in 7th grade, Columbia blast off for the first time (and Columbia landing for the first time). It is hard to believe that after being such a big part of my life for so long, the Shuttle Program is ending.
Here are some interesting stats on Discovery:
- First mission was almost 27 years ago
- 39 missions
- 365 days in space
- 5,830 orbits of the Earth
- 148,221,665 miles traveled
2 comments
The Russians flew a much more advanced shuttle once (using liquid fuel boosters), it flew automated around the world and landed unmanned and they realised it was a waste, although some might say "it was cost reasons"
the shuttle is pointless, the energy required to get anything to space as HUGE!!, the shuttle weighs 70ton, you don't send 70ton to space simply to return it empty and weighing 70ton.
I'm so happy NASA is going back to its roots, when discovery landed I had a great smile on my face, I thought I hope they smash it to pieces and build a mosaic of a rocket out of it, now NASA can get back to building rockets.
don't even mention payload, if you can send up 70ton of wings you can send up a larger diameter rocket for much less cost.
In theory space shuttle seemed like a good idea until military had there say and it become a camel.
I shouldn't even need to mention the solid boosters and lack of launch abort system.
I hope NASA gets some decent funding and builds some great rockets.
they bring the shuttle back empty, except for a few people in it, much more sense to bring back a small capsule, no need for wings, it is space after all.
I've had my rant LOL