watch endeavour launch tonight

[Sulkdodds]

Upward, I should think.

 

[Seppo]

for now

 

[Pulse]

It's headed towards the ISS and they're installing a robot to carry out repairs and essential maintenance.

 

[CyberPitz]

Upward, I should think.

'Up' is such a relative term. What about to those on another planet? Surely the shuttle is going 'Down' to them!

I do wonder what the mission is with that space shuttle.

 

[Krynn72]

They're dropping some guy off in the space station, doing some other shit with the station, and then probably doing some satellite work. I know they said that most of the crew were doing like 3 spacewalks a piece.

 

[Jerry_111]

'Up' is such a relative term. What about to those on another planet? Surely the shuttle is going 'Down' to them!

I do wonder what the mission is with that space shuttle.

The astronauts are headed to this space station:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080305.html

they will rotate the 2-man crew that is already up there, waiting for them... Deliver some food and equipment.. and install a new Japanese spacehub and Canadian robotic arm to the spacestation.

 

[theotherguy]

Sigh... so when are they going to replace these shuttles with something safer, and more cost effective. Or are they waiting for all the shuttles to blow up before they start replacing them...:|

Shuttles are officially running until 2010, or if the ISS isn't finished by then, shuttles will run until the ISS is complete.

 

[Escaep]

Shuttles are officially running until 2010, or if the ISS isn't finished by then, shuttles will run until the ISS is complete.

Yeah in 2010 the entire shuttle fleet is going to be retired. They are going to be going to the newer Orion Rockets. The rockets are not as cool to launch but are cheaper and easier to maintain. The shuttle fleet now is getting very old. Mission number #127 i think.

If i also recall the US government is cutting funding for the shuttle/ISS program in 2010 right?

Am i correct in saying that Obama doesnt want to fund NASA?


I was able to record the launch from the HD Channel recording the launch which has some awesome shots. Only thing is i dont know how to transfer it to my pc.

 

[Krynn72]

Theres still a shuttle "fleet"?

 

[Escaep]

Lol, theres only like 3 left. :| Shuttle Trio.

 

[Kakashi]

Theres still a shuttle "fleet"?

There were originally five total shuttles. Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and the Enterprise. Though the Enterprise was only for built testing, as it was the first shuttle built. It never made it into space. It's sitting at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in Dulles, Virginia. Which I recommend for all to go see, its MASSIVE up close.

And as you may know, the Challenger disintegrated in 1989 after launch. Afterwards, congress ordered the Endeavour to be built to replace the Challenger. Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated in 2003 when it entered the atmosphere.

So there are three shuttles left, still a fleet.

The new Orion Rockets to be used in 2010 and for space flights to the moon and Mars in 2025 will resemble the same space vehicles that took men to the moon in 1969. It will no longer resemble a 'shuttle'. Which kind of saddens me, it feels like we're going backwards, even though it's new and improved.

 

[Terminator]

I think the orion system is pretty cool, whilst it's like the old 60's stuff in basic functioning there's so much they are improving on the original designs (which were highly advanced and effective for the time)
The assembly of units in space is vital for future missions.

I think a modular approach is the best way, various units that can be combined as needed from simple earth orbits to mars and beyond manned missions.

Assembly in space can be around a space station /factory that can serve to check vehicles before distant travel and possibly checking re-entry craft if they re orbit before re-entry, mabye pop in and have a cup of tea with the space station crew after their journey???

Space exploration really gives me a boner.