STS-133 Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station Launches Thursday 21:50 GMT

sbi5ar · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:42

sigma said:
Lack of footage following the shuttle.

I think its too far out to be picked up... From previous landings when it comes in range they show it on the video...

sigma · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:43

You mean they're too high or too far away?

They could have had some fighter jets following it at distance, especially as it's the last ever landing. All comes down to money I guess.

Cosimo · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:44

sigma said:
Lack of footage following the shuttle.

Are you surprised it’s doing a burn up through the atmosphere at 11000mph, 32 miles high and getting a wee bit hot.

GJ02 · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:44

sigma said:
Lack of footage following the shuttle.

chase plane is far too slow hey

sigma · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:47

Surely some l33t jets could accompany it?

I wanna see, I wanna see.

Pete.Dakota · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:48

sigma said:
You mean they're too high or too far away?

They could have had some fighter jets following it at distance, especially as it's the last ever landing. All comes down to money I guess.

Do you know any fighter jets that can fly at mach 20? The shuttle doesn't slow down to 'normal airplane' speed until it's within range of the cameras at Kennedy.

Beside from that, cameras on the ground could see the trail when it came in over the southern US, but since Columbia, all re-entries occur mostly over water, from the south.

GJ02 · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:49

hey sim man
you gonna do a " best of discovery " thread with all the good stuff about her life ?

sigma · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:50

Pete.Dakota said:
The shuttle doesn't slow down to 'normal airplane' speed until it's within range of the cameras at Kennedy.

Obviously I did not know this.

Ooo we have video.

sbi5ar · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:50

There it is!!!

Cosimo · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:55

GJ02 said:
hey sim man
you gonna do a " best of discovery " thread with all the good stuff about her life ?

Maybe after the last shuttle flight.

Cosimo · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:56

What a great sight:

Berserker · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:58

Touchdown!

After 39 launches, 39 landings, 39 missions, approximately 5,747 orbits, 148,221,675 miles, 364 days 22 hours and 39 minutes in flight, Discovery is home for the last time.

We thank you for Hubble, for the ISS, and for all the crew you have launched and returned safely to Earth. Farewell and good luck in whatever your future holds.

Note - information had to be collated from several sources, so is likely to have a small degree of error. NASA's claim of 365 days is close enough to likely be accurate.

Dunks · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:58

Farewell Discovery

Marine Iguana · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:59

Balls missed it

Cosimo · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:59

Congratulations to the crew of Discovery and all those involved on another successful mission.

Farewell Discovery great job done!

sigma · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:59

Fantastic. Something magical about watching it.

GJ02 · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:59

simulatorman said:
Maybe after the last shuttle flight.

you should do mate, will be a very good thread i know !

well done discovery and all her crew's

Merlin5 · 9 Mar 2011 at 17:00

Berserker said:
Touchdown!

After 39 launches, 39 landings, 39 missions, approximately 5,747 orbits, 148,221,675 miles, 364 days 22 hours and 39 minutes in flight, Discovery is home for the last time.

We thank you for Hubble, for the ISS, and for all the crew you have launched and returned safely to Earth. Farewell and good luck in whatever your future holds.

Good readback!

sigma · 9 Mar 2011 at 17:01

I find it sad that most people don't care about this stuff anymore.

Berserker · 9 Mar 2011 at 17:05

simulatorman said:
Maybe after the last shuttle flight.

If you do do a 'Discovery special', gimme a shout. I'd be happy to make my STS-131 photos available to you. They're not much beyond the launch spectacular, but at least they're ours.