And they're off!
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NASA gave the shuttle Discovery a majestic Fourth of July send-off on the first-ever Independence Day manned launch at 2:38 p.m EDT.Early signs showed the spacecraft was in good shape, despite once again being struck by the flying foam that has plagued the program.
Shuttle managers said early video images of liftoff showing small pieces of foam breaking away were not troubling...
I hope this mission goes off without a hitch.
It would be nice if the Space Shuttles can finish their projected service life in 2010 with no further loss of life.
It will also be interesting to see the state-of-the-art finished product of the next generation of orbital landers...or whatever they'll be called.
Stay tuned for further developments...
NASA on "da 'Net"
posted by camojack | 00:23
10 Comments:
The shuttle amounts to an antique car; it needs the same care and feeding of my old Corvette.
That being said, I have always been a big booster of the space program. I share Arthur C. Clarke's vision, and wish we weren't foooling around instead of praying for politically motivated launches of antique space vehicles. We should be terraforming the moon, and on our way to Jupiter; not running biscuits to the space station.
The exploration of space is the one true human enterprise that transcends nations. Ever since the last shuttle broke up on re-entry, I have never been able to view a jet contrail with the same calm. Prayers go forth for our astronauts.
Amen to that possum!
Godspeed and best of luck to this and all space crews, this sort of thing does truly reveal our nobler intentions.
Although it has lately been a bit of an embarrassment, the shuttle has provided a bridge between the old-style delivery systems to a newer and more re-usable system that must come next. Perhaps this new system should be privately run, rather than relying on government to do R&D and development...
I think Boeing Corporation could design an elegant spacecraft if they were properly funded. NASA was a political entity, in the days of the "space race" with the Soviets.
Ironically, their old rockets seem to work better at boosting supplies to the space station.
Private industry may well be the next gateway to space. I'd just like to get on with the program. I wrote at UPI of the marvels my grandmother and great-aunts saw in their 100+ years. I'd like to see a few marvels of my own before the clock runs out.
Hey Camo, Sorry to be away so long. Been busy with my own Testimonium blog. My prayers are goin' up for the astronauts. I too am a bit of a space buff. I collected a lot of stuff back in the 60s when the program was first starting. Have the autographs of a few of the first astronauts. And I love space movies.
Regards...
Possum:
I'd have to agree with the antique car analogy...but of course economic and political pressure have kept NASA from technologically advancing very much in recent years.
boberin:
Yes, Godspeed and best of luck to this and all space crews, indeed!
Beerme:
The government doesn't do anything well; I agree that the private sector (ie: Boeing, as Possum mentioned) would do a much better job.
Hawkeye®:
You weren't away so long. You post comments here regularly. I'm sure that Testimonium blog of yours takes up quite a bit of your time too, with all the research you've obviously done.
As for space movies, I like 'em too. They're (as the Bogart character Sam Spade said in "The Maltese Falcon") the "stuff dreams are made of"...
Yes I also am praying for our brave adventurers. Personally I'm waiting to take a ride on the Space Elevator....
22,300 floor " space garments, micro meteorites, geosyncronous outposts........"
Libby Gone™:
Have you read Arthur C. Clarke's "The Fountains of Paradise", by any chance?
There's a space elevator in that one...
NASA says the shuttle is safe to return. Good! NASA has screwed things so bad in recent years, they need a success!
benning:
NASA could use a success, 'tis true. But I think the private sector would be more successful.
Kajun:
That sounds like something Mr. Gone™ might say...not that there's anything wrong with that.
Oh, yeah, ELEVENTEEN!!!
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