All hail Discovery

[Onkel Neal]

We're back in action! Perfect launch :up:

[TteFAboB]

Way to go, the Aliens are watching us. :up:

[Linton]

Isn't it time that NASA got there act together and developed a new launch system?Just how long do they think they can keep operating this obsolescent and dangerous system?I saw Challenger explode with my own eyes. The whole US nation was stunned when that happened,yet NASA persevered with itand lost another orbiter!The whole system has many critical flaws and needs replacing before anybody else is hurt!!

[Oberon]

Bon Voyage guys! :up:

[STEED]

The space shuttle is out of date technology, come on N.A.S.A it's time man landed on Mars. ;)

[Torpedo Fodder]

Isn't it time that NASA got there act together and developed a new launch system?Just how long do they think they can keep operating this obsolescent and dangerous system?I saw Challenger explode with my own eyes. The whole US nation was stunned when that happened,yet NASA persevered with itand lost another orbiter!The whole system has many critical flaws and needs replacing before anybody else is hurt!!
That's what the Crew Exploration Vehicle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crew_Exploration_Vehicle) is for. It's first flight is scheduled for 2010, the year the shuttle is scheduled to make it's last flight.

[scandium]

The space shuttle is out of date technology, come on N.A.S.A it's time man landed on Mars. ;)
T'is all a matter of priorities Steed.

NASA budget for 2006: $16.45 billion. http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/02/07/aids-human050207.html

Projected cost of Iraq War for 2006: $94 billion. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/19/AR2006041902594.html

Perhaps a manned mars mission might cost less than the total Iraq tab ($1 trillion, $2 trillion?), but there isn't the political will in the US to send a manned rocket to Mars that there is to send cruise missles to Iraq... I guess Iraq is closer ;)

Edit: upon further reflection, I have the perfect solution: send Saddam Hussein to Iraq on an unmanned rocket, then Bush can avenge Saddam's attempt to "kill my daddy" by sending US troops to liberate Mars :up:

[tycho102]

It's not over 'till it comes back down.

At the very least, I will hold off on "congratulations" for the 48 hours that it takes NASA to review all the lift-off cameras. There's a satellite visual-inspection scheduled within the first few days, too.

A good lift-off is always promising.




edit- And Mars hasn't flow any planes into our buildings.

[scandium]

edit- And Mars hasn't flow any planes into our buildings.

And neither did Saddam Hussein so what is your point?

[kiwi_2005]

We need to find a worm hole, otherwise the moon is our limit.:hmm:

[Spoon 11th]

by sending US troops to liberate Mars :up:
That would be sweet. Starship troopers to the Mars.

[Onkel Neal]

The space shuttle is out of date technology, come on N.A.S.A it's time man landed on Mars. ;)

I agree with both points. :yep:

[tycho102]

To me, it's not that the Space Shuttle is "out of date". It's that safety standards have improved to the point where the SS is considered "unsafe". To be specific, getting one-quarter out of your expected life-span is an impressive feat.

What I'd like to see is a two-system orbiter. I'd like to see the cargo go up in one, controlled by remote pilot, and I'd like to see the manned ship go up a week later.

It also stands to be said that the space shuttle has a tremendous amount of lifting capacity. It actually has more lifting capacity than the Saturn V (but it was designed for a completely different purpose).

[XabbaRus]

Another example of the military meddling.

The original concept for an orbiter was much smaller with a smaller payload. The military then jumped on board and it grew to the size it is now. Needless to say though it has performed some great missions it hasn't fulfilled its expectations or its full capabilities.

Pity they scrapped the Lockheed replacement.

[Subnuts]

If anyone has any interest in the Shuttle, buy a copy of the third edition of Dennis Jenkin's book Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System if you don't own it already. It explains everything you ever wanted to know about the shuttle's development and history, plus it's packed with hundreds of great photos and diagrams. I must pull that thing out every month just to correct people's misconceptions...

[Torpedo Fodder]

It also stands to be said that the space shuttle has a tremendous amount of lifting capacity. It actually has more lifting capacity than the Saturn V (but it was designed for a completely different purpose).
Well fortunately NASA is developing a conventional in-line payload version (as opposed to it's current parrallel-payload design) of the shuttle booster stack as part of the CEV program. It will be able to lift 130 tons to low earth orbit, or 65 tons into a trans-lunar injection. For comparison, the Saturn V could lift 118 tonnes to LEO and 47 tonnes to TLI.

One interesting thing about this booster is that the upper stage will include a modernized version of the J-2 engine originally used by the Saturn V's 2nd and 3rd stages.

[The Avon Lady]

The right stuff (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060705/ap_on_sc/brf_shuttle_bird;_ylt=AjhDMeOE2Zg8Oaf9vThszkms0NUE ;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-).

[JSLTIGER]

Isn't it time that NASA got there act together and developed a new launch system?Just how long do they think they can keep operating this obsolescent and dangerous system?I saw Challenger explode with my own eyes. The whole US nation was stunned when that happened,yet NASA persevered with itand lost another orbiter!The whole system has many critical flaws and needs replacing before anybody else is hurt!!
That's what the Crew Exploration Vehicle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crew_Exploration_Vehicle) is for. It's first flight is scheduled for 2010, the year the shuttle is scheduled to make it's last flight.


Yeah, but at the same time, it almost seems like we're taking a step backward with the CEV from the shuttle, moving from a completely-reusable spaceplane to semi-reusable (10 times) Apollo-style capsule. Granted, the shuttle is now obsolete and a more advanced ship is needed, however, what is forgotten is that it is STILL the MOST ADVANCED method of getting back and forth from space, especially when one considers that the Soyuz was designed in the 1960s and Shenzhou is basically a modified and enlarged Soyuz.

[goldorak]

Yeah, but at the same time, it almost seems like we're taking a step backward with the CEV from the shuttle, moving from a completely-reusable spaceplane to semi-reusable (10 times) Apollo-style capsule. Granted, the shuttle is now obsolete and a more advanced ship is needed, however, what is forgotten is that it is STILL the MOST ADVANCED method of getting back and forth from space, especially when one considers that the Soyuz was designed in the 1960s and Shenzhou is basically a modified and enlarged Soyuz.

No, the Shuttle is the most advanced way of getting into Low Earth Orbit and back.
Apart from this, the shuttle is completely useless, just as the iss.
Gemini capsules back in the 1960's could go into higher orbit than the Shuttle.
Most advanced doesn't always mean better, or more cost effective. ;)

[Spoon 11th]

I just realised that there's no sauna on the ISS. That must be why there haven't been any visits yet by finnish cosmonauts. Waiting for the sauna module...

[Godalmighty83]

just saw the launch, the ship looked dirty and old. not the brilliant white they used to be but more a musty yellow. a bit like a old vauxhall.

[Subnuts]

just saw the launch, the ship looked dirty and old. not the brilliant white they used to be but more a musty yellow. a bit like a old vauxhall.

If you'd re-entered the Earth's atmosphere 28 times you wouldn't be looking too hot either.

[Wim Libaers]

Yeah, but at the same time, it almost seems like we're taking a step backward with the CEV from the shuttle, moving from a completely-reusable spaceplane to semi-reusable (10 times) Apollo-style capsule. Granted, the shuttle is now obsolete and a more advanced ship is needed, however, what is forgotten is that it is STILL the MOST ADVANCED method of getting back and forth from space, especially when one considers that the Soyuz was designed in the 1960s and Shenzhou is basically a modified and enlarged Soyuz.
But if the reusable vehicle costs more per launch than a completely expendable one, something's wrong.

[SUBMAN1]

Yeah, but at the same time, it almost seems like we're taking a step backward with the CEV from the shuttle, moving from a completely-reusable spaceplane to semi-reusable (10 times) Apollo-style capsule. Granted, the shuttle is now obsolete and a more advanced ship is needed, however, what is forgotten is that it is STILL the MOST ADVANCED method of getting back and forth from space, especially when one considers that the Soyuz was designed in the 1960s and Shenzhou is basically a modified and enlarged Soyuz.
But if the reusable vehicle costs more per launch than a completely expendable one, something's wrong.

If it is cheaper to send something on an expendable vehicle, trust me, they do not use the Shuttle. Where manipulation of an object is mandated, or where there is space available on a particular launch is only when something is allowed on.

-S

[2019]

Perhaps a manned mars mission might cost less than the total Iraq tab ($1 trillion, $2 trillion?), but there isn't the political will in the US to send a manned rocket to Mars that there is to send cruise missles to Iraq... I guess Iraq is closer
There is no oil on mars, so iraq is more a profitable investment. :lol:

[Subnuts]

I'm afraid we're going to need about $50 billion in public support to get a workable space shuttle replacement. :nope:

[tycho102]

And I'm "afraid" that, when it's all out of the design phase and into the production phase, we're going to have to double that $50b investment. I honestly do think it's worth $100b. The only damn problem I have is that we should have been paying and working on it over a decade ago.

And yes, I do pay taxes (that is to say, that $100b will come from taxpayers such as myself).

[The Avon Lady]

Rocket's eye view (http://mfile.akamai.com/18566/wmv/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355/wm.nasa-global/sts-121/right_forward_srb_camera.asx).

About 13 minute long video, from launch to splashdown. Nothing more to see after the 9th minute, so no need to watch after that to the end.

Enjoy.