What’s Your Preference?

BuddhaPi · #1 (**permalink**) 06-28-2011, 11:43 PM

Final Launch of Shuttle Atlantis and the shuttle program has been confirmed.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The last space shuttle launch ever is set for July 8.

NASA managers met at Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday and confirmed Friday, July 8, as the launch date for Atlantis. The 12-day mission will close out the 30-year shuttle program.

Atlantis will fly to the International Space Station with a year's worth of supplies. Four astronauts will be on board for this grand finale.

NASA spent the past week testing a new fuel valve that was installed in one of Atlantis' main engines to stop a leak. Technicians also X-rayed support brackets on the external fuel tank. Officials say everything looks good.

Launch time is 11:26 a.m. Huge crowds are expected.

As luck would have it I'll be out of state and will miss it unless its delayed by at least 10 days.....i'm bummed to not only miss it, but really bummed that it's ending altoghter..

NgaiHill · #2 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 02:20 AM

Goodness, I remember watching live the landing of Columbia on her first flight "Welcome Home Columbia", the line almost as famous as "Houston, we have a problem!"
The end of an era I guess, will try to catch the take off on TV if its on at a civilised hour, here on the other side other side of the world

Izzy · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 02:25 AM

It is sad to see it go. What is more sad is that it is going and there are no plans in order to replace the program. The truth is that it is late 70's technology and it is time for it to go. But rather than continue our space program which has brought us things like Hubble we are going to just hitch hike (hijack) another countries space program so we can still get there without flipping the bill.

We have loads of money to blow sh!t up but we cant find any money to continue our space program.