Last Space Shuttle flight 8th July 2011

[Neo]

The Shuttle first took off in 1981, I remember crowding around a TV at school to watch it, and at the time it was heralded as a new age of space flight for all.

Well at $500 milliion a launch that proved to be a rather over optimistic hope, and as the years have rolled by it's once spectacular launches have become rather run of the mill.

So after 30 years the Space Shuttle Atlanta will take the final launch today, the Shuttle program has seen some incredible achievements, along with it's notable tradgedies.

There's plenty of coverage out there, but here's a great photo tribute to the program from the BBC

BBC News - In pictures: The space shuttle

[Neo]

Space Shuttle Mission

The Space Shuttle Atlantis is in its last hours before liftoff on Friday, July 8, 2011. It is set for the space shuttle program, STS-135 on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station.

The Shuttle will have a crew of four and Raffaello multipurpose logistics module plus spare parts for the space station. The astronauts in the crew are Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists, Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.



Space Shuttle: Atlantis

Launch Date: July 8, 2011
Launch Time: 11:26 a.m. EDT
Launch Site: Kennedy's Space Center's Launch Pad 39A
Landing Date: July 20, 2011
Landing Time: 7:06 p.m. EDT
Landing Site: Kennedy's Space Center's Space Shuttle Landing Facility
Mission Duration: 12 days
Inclination/Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
NASA - Space Shuttle NASA - Shuttle

The Final Space Shuttle Mission-STS 135

[blue]

Good !! I'm glad its the last one
sick to death of hearing about them - the constant delayed flights etc
they was never a good design anyway
piss off space shuffle

[Carrabow]

I remember when the space shuttle with the teacher in it exploded, I ran down to the teachers lounge opened up the door and proudly proclaimed the tragic event to them.

Needless to say, that year in school was quite painful with the teachers

When my parents found out, well you know that outcome as well.

Lesson Learned

I still do not like teachers

[bobo746]

Q: What were Christa McAuliffe's last words?
A: "What's this button do?"
.................................................. ..................................................

Q: What does a sea lion, the space shuttle and Tylenol have in common?
A: They're all looking for a tight seal.
.................................................. ..................................................
Q: What does NASA stand for?
A1: Need Another Seven Astronauts

[Carrabow]

Q: What were Christa McAuliffe's last words?
A: "What's this button do?"
.................................................. ..................................................

Q: What does a sea lion, the space shuttle and Tylenol have in common?
A: They're all looking for a tight seal.
.................................................. ..................................................
Q: What does NASA stand for?
A1: Need Another Seven Astronauts

Oh boy! I cant green you. Sorry