STS-135 - The Final Space Shuttle Mission

PermaBanned said:
And yet the Soyuz had more room and more advanced instruments, including a computer.

Ultimately, wasn't your initial question about Apollo v Shuttle? I think it comes down to the Shuttle being reusable, and thus a lot cheaper per launch than Apollo. In 135 missions what, five fully functional Shuttles have had to be built? With the SRBs being used on quite a few missions each. Each Apollo mission not only required a brand new CMD, LM (or whatever additional module was required) and ablative reentry heatshield, but also an entire Saturn V rocket. I think the price difference is somewhat monumental.
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My original response was about firsts, I didnt mention anything about Apollo vs Shuttle.

On the Apollo Soyuz test project, the Americans wanted to go for a high orbit but the Russians didnt have the ability to, they wanted to go about 400 miles but had to stick to 200 or so, I think its pretty safe to say that the Apollo was a far better and more advanced machine than the early Soyuz crafts.
 
Saw Atlantis this week on 39A :). The guy doing the tour was saying that the day after it lands 3000 people at Nasa will be made redundant although they have known for 7 yrs the shuttle was coming to an end at some point. The tour also showed the new launch platform tower they have nearly completed until the project was cancelled last year. He also said that there is no new launch platform at the moment but to not forget that it does take between 5-7 years from retiring one to releasing a new one. Until then only the Russians will be launching people into space.
 
I will say this about STS-134 - Drew looked a lot younger in space. I don't know if that was because of 0G, or because he was doing something that amazing...
 
This is a sad sad day :(

Ever since I have been a little kid, I have always wanted to watch a a shuttle launch. Last time I when to Florida we missed the launch by a few weeks but the Kennedy Space Center is a amazing place to visit. However, sadly I am never going to see one.
 
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Sad era, so annoyed they gave up on the replacement.
How is the replacement doing, isn't lockheed Martin, going ahead with a smaller version, unmanned version? Or has that been canned as well?

Still will hopefully join you for the launch, just seems all replacements are a long way off, especially the private sector.
 
AcidHell2 said:
Why it will drive costs down and then we may get space exploration back.
Privatisation is needed IMO.
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Back? Back from what? The only reason it 'went away' is because the cold war ended. No, we need a sense of perspective, and proper space funding. Privatization is worst case scenario for space exploration, unless it isn't profit driven which is practically impossible.
 
It ended becuase cold war ended & it is to expensive.

Why is privatisation worse? What are we losing?
Space travel is to expensive for governments to justify. The only option is private.
 
If we privatize then the answer to the questions "Why go to the space?", "Why go to the moon?", "Why go to Mars?" or "Why build a space station?" will be "Because it will make me rich." That may be true, but it's implications are enough to fill my throat with bile. If that becomes the case then we've completely lost sight of our humanity, and why we choose to go there in the first place. It won't be a wonderful, magical thing that can send shivers down your spine anymore, it will just be yet another industry, another resource waiting to be exploited.

I could quote JFK, but... in the immortal words of George Mallory;

"Why do you want to climb Everest?"
"Because it's there."
 
NASA and space agents still and will continue to exist, what it means is launch costs will come down so they can focus on the science and exploration.
Without privatisation space travel will die, it's to expensive for governments to justify. With privatisation we should see the price per kilo drop, The uk skylon spaceplane if it ever comes fruition. Should reduce costs from$15000 to under $1000, think what we could launch into space and construct in space with current budgets.
 
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Space Shuttle Atlantis Tribute

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This tribute to space shuttle Atlantis, OV-104, hangs in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

It features, Atlantis soaring above Earth. Threaded through the design are the mission patches for each of Atlantis' flights. Atlantis' accomplishments include seven missions to the Russian space station Mir and several assembly, construction and resupply missions to the International Space Station. Atlantis also flew the last Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission on STS-125.

The planet Venus represents the Magellan probe being deployed during STS-30, and Jupiter represents the Galileo probe being deployed during STS-34. The inset photos illustrate various aspects of shuttle processing in addition to significant achievements, such as the glass cockpit and the first shuttle docking with Mir during STS-71.

The inset photo in the upper-left corner shows a rainbow over Atlantis on Launch Pad 39A and shuttle Endeavour on Launch Pad 39B. Endeavour was the assigned vehicle had Atlantis' STS-125 mission needed rescue. Also, this was the last time both launch pads were occupied at the same time.

The stars in the background represent the many people who have worked with Atlantis and their contributions to the vehicle's success.

Graphic design credit: NASA/Amy Lombardo
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The full size one is here.
 
I cannot beleive that im going to be away in turkey for the launch.

Ive been waiting for this too, lol, why didnt i realise sooner :(

Oh well...
 
Found this the other day... Was a good watch despite being presented by Richard Hammond.

Would love to get that close to the launch pad and orbiters
 
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