The Last Is Gone
 

I watched the first touch down, along with people from neighboring factories, on a small B&W TV. :(

I remember when the first Mercury ship went straight up and came right back down. That was the first time man had been in space. And now it all seems to be over.

:nod:

Incorrect on both counts. Gagarin beat Sheppard into space, and people in general, and Americans in particular will be on the international space station for at least the next year. Log after Atlantis has returned.

But really, next stop for us should be Mars.

He was the first American in space, although there's an argument that Scott Crossfield beat him in the X-15.

An almost unknown Russian by the name of Yuri Gagarin beat Al Shepard jr into space, and he did a full orbit.

Not quite as unknown as some agencies would have preferred at the time and certainly well known in the eastern hemisphere.

ScarCrow is right though about the first US rush of rockets after Sputnik in 57. There was a lot of criticism for giving the world grandstand seats to the literal flops of it's sudden entry into the space age. The laughing stopped as the world watch the USA put it's full attention to a new task again to produce success and results that has benefited every person around the world in everyday life. As part of this new direction for mankind, NASA produced this shuttle program that gave us Hubble and made the ISS possible, to point at only a couple accomplishments. The knowledge advancements for the specie has been greater than any other individual effort in history and in less time. This happened in a different time with different people. :(


That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ;)

I find it a bit disgraceful that we are now dependent on Russia for transporting astronauts into space. Oh well, maybe in the next year or two we can buy rockets from China. :(

This is among a number of things some of us find disappointing for MY country.

That part of it is.

If you think about it, decommissioning the space shuttle somewhat makes sense. The technology it uses is far surpassed by our smart phones. That's not to say it doesn't still work just fine, but should probably be updated. Who is to say that NASA isn't going to design and build something that could take us, not just to the space station and the moon, but to Mars as well? I don't think of it as the end, but just a pause so that the next chapter is even better.

Congress & the White House.

Both of which are more than willing to spend the tax payers dollars for anything these days. Besides, I never said when it might happen. Could be in 20 years when they finally develop something like that. Could be another 50. All I'm saying is it's a possibility.

I am afraid that as far as the USA is concerned NASA and the space program is dead unless private money becomes involved. The government is giving all of our money to their own causes.

I don't like the idea of having to get a visa from the Chinese or the Indians to visit the Moon or Mars.

Let's see ... we can borrow the money from China to hitch a ride on a Russian rocket. What happens if we get a man up there and the Chinese decide not to lend us the money to bring him home? :shrug:

Just asking.

It's only a short term worry.

They'll deorbit the ISS before 2020, with all that lovely tech which took billions to get up there getting a free lift home.

WOOOOO!

Unfortunately, ........... you happen to be just a little too tech savvy especially in topics of this nature. Please say that statement is another slice of that convoluted Aussie humor. Do you have any insight that could lead to the demise of, what to me is one of the slim hopes for our species future, the ISS?

We could always get a ride with the Japanese space agency

Atmospheric braking is slowly dragging the ISS back to ground.

Each of the shuttles burns off the last of it's fuel pushing the ISS those few miles higher.

The Russkis won't be able to do that as well, so eventually they'll controlled deorbit it so it doesn't drop on some random city.

or.... how about it DOES drop on some specific city of Washington. :cool:

If that's allowed to happen, start......... I mean finish the culling. I'm sure there's a truly evolved specie some where else.

Since we'll probably not be able to pay our way, maybe they'll just make sure it's not one of THEIR cities. :shrug:

http://www.ovff.org/pegasus/songs/f...new-jersey.html

"Falling Down on New Jersey"
Absolutely marvelous!
Dearsweet and I did it in harmony! Love it!

Ah! If only Stan Rogers were able to do it!

The last has returned.

I had several southerly friends remark about the sadness of hearing the re-entry booms for the last time.

Welcome home, good ship & crew Atlantis.

Much sadness is heard for this last time. :(




Occasionally the specie does something worthwhile but most often that seems to be quickly corrected.:cool:

Sic transit gloria mundi.

There will be another tomorrow.

Someday.

Was that Gloria sick on the bus last Monday as well?

The biggest problem for NASA will be holding the team together without manned missions available. What if the next telescope needs eyeglasses (like Hubble)?

There may not be a next telescope.

I saw that. Not nice.

NASA is laying off 10,000 workers.

An emotional tribute to the Space Shuttle Program.