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The Space Shuttle became extinct tonight
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Hermerico
May 11, 2012, 9:59:51 PM5/11/12
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47394680/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.T63CfrMwbyM
NASA pulled the plug on its last powered space shuttle Friday, 20 years after it flew its first mission.
Space shuttle technicians working inside Orbiter Processing Facility-2 (OPF-2) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida powered down Endeavour, the youngest of the retired fleet's orbiters, at 9:58 a.m. EDT as they moved forward with preparations for the winged spacecraft's museum display.
This September, NASA will mount Endeavour on top of a modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft and ferry it to Los Angeles for its exhibit at the California Science Center.
NASA's youngest shuttle
Built after the loss of the Challenger orbiter in 1986, the shuttle Endeavour was largely assembled from spare parts pre-fabricated during the development of its sister ships Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour's first mission, STS-49, lifted off in May 1992.
NASA retired its shuttle fleet in July 2011, and the remaining orbiters are all headed to museums. While the agency is currently using Russian spacecraft to transport its astronauts to low-Earth orbit, U.S. commercial vehicles are planned to take over this taxi service by 2017. [ NASA's Shuttle Program in Pictures ]
"The whole thing shutting down is a shame," Dan Brandenstein, Endeavour's first commander, told collectSPACE.com just a few hours after he visited his former spaceship last Saturday. "It is good that they are saving them as museum artifacts, but you have three vehicles that are still good flying machines going on a post or in a display case."
Endeavour was the last of NASA's retired shuttle fleet to go permanently dark. Discovery, which was delivered to the Smithsonian in April, was powered down for a final time on Dec. 16, 2011. Atlantis, which is destined for display just down the road from its processing facility at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, was shut down the following week on Dec. 22.
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Endeavour flew its 25th and final mission, STS-134, a year ago this month. The 16-day mission to the International Space Station launched on May 16, 2011.
One last look
Since then, shuttle workers have removed from Endeavour hazardous materials and components that might be used for future spacecraft. This week, technicians removed fuel lines that led to Endeavour's engines for possible reuse with NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket now under development.
Astronaut Kevin Chilton, who began his own astronaut career flying as the pilot of Endeavour's maiden mission, was also there this past weekend to see Endeavour "alive" one last time.
"There's an emotional attachment, almost human-like, to that hardware," Chilton told collectSPACE. "I remember after my first flight on Endeavour, and it was her first flight too, starting to walk toward the bus, stopping and turning around to look back at her, sitting there on the ramp."
"I said [to the shuttle], 'Thanks, thanks for bringing me home,'" Chilton recalled. "The hardware itself really takes on a life of its own to your life, particularly when it brings you home."
NASA recently invited collectSPACE.com aboard Endeavour for one last look at the space shuttle's flight deck fully lit before it was shut down on Friday.
Visit shuttles.collectspace.com for continuing coverage of the delivery and display of NASA's retired space shuttles.
NASA pulled the plug on its last powered space shuttle Friday, 20 years after it flew its first mission.
Space shuttle technicians working inside Orbiter Processing Facility-2 (OPF-2) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida powered down Endeavour, the youngest of the retired fleet's orbiters, at 9:58 a.m. EDT as they moved forward with preparations for the winged spacecraft's museum display.
This September, NASA will mount Endeavour on top of a modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft and ferry it to Los Angeles for its exhibit at the California Science Center.
NASA's youngest shuttle
Built after the loss of the Challenger orbiter in 1986, the shuttle Endeavour was largely assembled from spare parts pre-fabricated during the development of its sister ships Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour's first mission, STS-49, lifted off in May 1992.
NASA retired its shuttle fleet in July 2011, and the remaining orbiters are all headed to museums. While the agency is currently using Russian spacecraft to transport its astronauts to low-Earth orbit, U.S. commercial vehicles are planned to take over this taxi service by 2017. [ NASA's Shuttle Program in Pictures ]
"The whole thing shutting down is a shame," Dan Brandenstein, Endeavour's first commander, told collectSPACE.com just a few hours after he visited his former spaceship last Saturday. "It is good that they are saving them as museum artifacts, but you have three vehicles that are still good flying machines going on a post or in a display case."
Endeavour was the last of NASA's retired shuttle fleet to go permanently dark. Discovery, which was delivered to the Smithsonian in April, was powered down for a final time on Dec. 16, 2011. Atlantis, which is destined for display just down the road from its processing facility at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, was shut down the following week on Dec. 22.
Advertise | AdChoices
Endeavour flew its 25th and final mission, STS-134, a year ago this month. The 16-day mission to the International Space Station launched on May 16, 2011.
One last look
Since then, shuttle workers have removed from Endeavour hazardous materials and components that might be used for future spacecraft. This week, technicians removed fuel lines that led to Endeavour's engines for possible reuse with NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket now under development.
Astronaut Kevin Chilton, who began his own astronaut career flying as the pilot of Endeavour's maiden mission, was also there this past weekend to see Endeavour "alive" one last time.
"There's an emotional attachment, almost human-like, to that hardware," Chilton told collectSPACE. "I remember after my first flight on Endeavour, and it was her first flight too, starting to walk toward the bus, stopping and turning around to look back at her, sitting there on the ramp."
"I said [to the shuttle], 'Thanks, thanks for bringing me home,'" Chilton recalled. "The hardware itself really takes on a life of its own to your life, particularly when it brings you home."
NASA recently invited collectSPACE.com aboard Endeavour for one last look at the space shuttle's flight deck fully lit before it was shut down on Friday.
Visit shuttles.collectspace.com for continuing coverage of the delivery and display of NASA's retired space shuttles.
Lady Azure, Baroness of the North Pole
May 18, 2012, 11:53:01 PM5/18/12
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Hermerico wrote:
>
> NASA pulled the plug on its last powered space shuttle Friday, 20 years after it flew its first mission.
Before they start a SERIOUS FIGHT!
But hey the Coon Ass Frenchies are a bunch of Unamerican Cretans, the Angli are gonna teach a Lesson, when they return America to the Vision of their ANGLI FOREFATHERS!
Sig File, eh what!
Doug Freyburger
May 25, 2012, 2:45:14 PM5/25/12
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Hermerico wrote:
>
> NASA pulled the plug on its last powered space shuttle Friday, 20 years after it flew its first mission.
Dragon docked with the ISS two weeks later. Now the shuttle is the
>
> NASA pulled the plug on its last powered space shuttle Friday, 20 years after it flew its first mission.
extinct dinosaur and the dragon is the live project. Strange reversals.
Dirk Bruere at NeoPax
May 25, 2012, 4:34:16 PM5/25/12
to
--
FFF
Dirk
Full Spectrum Praxis : ZERO STATE : http://zerostate.net
Doug Freyburger
May 25, 2012, 5:12:16 PM5/25/12
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Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
inheretted that teeshirt a long time ago. Yet here we are a long time
later.
I figure in a few centuries there will be a lot of people out in the
asteriod belt. At some point centuries after that in the Kuiper belt.
At some point centuries after that in the Oort cloud. At some point
centuries after that in other star systems. There's no great hurry.
> Doug Freyburger wrote:
>
>> Dragon docked with the ISS two weeks later. Now the shuttle is the
>> extinct dinosaur and the dragon is the live project. Strange reversals.
>
> Slowly moving towards a capability lost 40 years ago.
Lief Ericson versus Columbus. We Americans have been there, done that,
>
>> Dragon docked with the ISS two weeks later. Now the shuttle is the
>> extinct dinosaur and the dragon is the live project. Strange reversals.
>
> Slowly moving towards a capability lost 40 years ago.
inheretted that teeshirt a long time ago. Yet here we are a long time
later.
I figure in a few centuries there will be a lot of people out in the
asteriod belt. At some point centuries after that in the Kuiper belt.
At some point centuries after that in the Oort cloud. At some point
centuries after that in other star systems. There's no great hurry.
scottl...@ix.netcom.com
May 25, 2012, 9:22:44 PM5/25/12
to
Well... maybe. If we wait until oil is gone, nukes are gone,
capitalism is destroyed and the teeming billions of the world are
stuck in a permanent economic depression with an average quality of
life much like the Okies of the 1930's or those in Rocinha, then the
chance will be gone, probably permanently. The time for *any*
important advance is almost always Right Now.
capitalism is destroyed and the teeming billions of the world are
stuck in a permanent economic depression with an average quality of
life much like the Okies of the 1930's or those in Rocinha, then the
chance will be gone, probably permanently. The time for *any*
important advance is almost always Right Now.
Lady Azure, Baroness of the North Pole
May 26, 2012, 10:21:04 PM5/26/12
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D'Rakhine's, RULE!
Scotari, O'D'Scoti!
The TRAVELERS, who "Had Their Cart, Before THEIR, Horse"!
Regardless of what BLACK WATER BIGOTS, think their gonna do about it!
Felix, the Cat, vs, your Fuckn' Tom Cat!
GOD, gave ME, "STATUTORY COVENANT", the "LAW" of GOD, "NO STRINGS ATTACHED"!
Your "WORD" vs. My "WORD"!
"Black Taper, Black Taper, Hand Dipped of Oil,
Watch as Dagda makes the Cauldron Boil,
Lest Mankind the Earth Itself DESPOIL!
Black Buddha this Time Dud's!
I know "BOTH", the Yin, and the YANG, and ain't afraid of using the Force of EITHER!
Law, say's Eye for an Eye!
He, told ya If Man should strike you on your Right turn to him ALSO your Left!
So GOD did, I am the Left Hand!
Rev 11:3, comes before any 13!
At least in my book!
Lady Azure, Baroness of the North Pole
May 26, 2012, 10:24:03 PM5/26/12
to
Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
> On 25/05/2012 19:45, Doug Freyburger wrote:
> > Hermerico wrote:
> >>
> >> NASA pulled the plug on its last powered space shuttle Friday, 20 years after it flew its first mission.
> >
> > Dragon docked with the ISS two weeks later. Now the shuttle is the
> > extinct dinosaur and the dragon is the live project. Strange reversals.
>
> Slowly moving towards a capability lost 40 years ago.
No, lost it about Circa, 3500 BCE?, when they "BROKE THE WORLD", after which declared "Knowledge", EVIL!
> > Hermerico wrote:
> >>
> >> NASA pulled the plug on its last powered space shuttle Friday, 20 years after it flew its first mission.
> >
> > Dragon docked with the ISS two weeks later. Now the shuttle is the
> > extinct dinosaur and the dragon is the live project. Strange reversals.
>
> Slowly moving towards a capability lost 40 years ago.
Fallen Angels, & all.
o}:-)
Lady Azure, Baroness of the North Pole
May 26, 2012, 10:25:01 PM5/26/12
to
Doug Freyburger wrote:
> Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
> > Doug Freyburger wrote:
> >
> >> Dragon docked with the ISS two weeks later. Now the shuttle is the
> >> extinct dinosaur and the dragon is the live project. Strange reversals.
> >
> > Slowly moving towards a capability lost 40 years ago.
>
> Lief Ericson versus Columbus. We Americans have been there, done that,
> inheretted that teeshirt a long time ago. Yet here we are a long time
> later.
>
> I figure in a few centuries there will be a lot of people out in the
> asteriod belt.
Lady Azure, Baroness of the North Pole
May 26, 2012, 10:27:59 PM5/26/12
to
"scottl...@ix.netcom.com" wrote:
> On May 25, 3:12 pm, Doug Freyburger <dfrey...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > There's no great hurry.
>
> Well... maybe. If we wait until oil is gone, nukes are gone,
How about "GOVERNMENT!
SOCIAL ORDER, HELL BENT on CONTROLLING THE SHEEPLE!
They all "SUCK.
"ALL GOVERNMENT", INURES TO THE PEOPLE!
Not some "SPECIAL INTEREST", Dripping Money!
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