Atlantis made a perfect touchdown just a few minutes ago to end the shuttle program for the public sector and now will begin to rely on the private sector to ferry pilots.
The program was long in the tooth and I hope that the private side can come up with a more cost effecient means but it is still sad to see the end of the shuttle program. 135 flights.
I watched a live feed that showed the view from the commanders seat. Very interesting to watch the heads up display as she burned off speed and altitude.
Were they greeted by a crowd with Ape masks on?! Someone, not me, but I wish I could take credit for the idea, suggested we greet the crew upon landing while wearing ape masks to make it look like they drifted in time a la Planet of the Apes!
That would have been funny, especially since they have a new movie about to come out called the "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" or such.
The real success story in the space program is all of the advancement in terms of technology, research and science which was turned over to the public domain - many commercial items we enjoy every day are thanks to the space program.
I see it is another anniversary also.
End of the program has a big impact here since the external tanks were made in New Orleans East and the rocket engines were tested at stennis Space center which is just a spit over the Louisiana border here in my Parish.
An old friend who has worked at Stennis for years has told me that the future rocket engine programs are always in a go/stop/go/stop stop mode due to politics and it waists a lot of time and money.
He recently told me about some of the private development in rocket engines. He said the guy who started Amazon.com is spending a lot his fortune on building a new engine.
I see it as 4,000 more people in the unemployment line.....
Now we can comfortably settle into our new found third world status. 🙁
So long as we don't have to give back all the Teflon pots and pans......;-)
> The real success story in the space program is all of the advancement in terms of technology, research and science which was turned over to the public domain - many commercial items we enjoy every day are thanks to the space program.
> Now we can comfortably settle into our new found third world status. 🙁
Third world, if that. Even India is actively pursuing a manned space program now.
"Even India"
> > Now we can comfortably settle into our new found third world status. 🙁
>
> Third world, if that. Even India is actively pursuing a manned space program now.
Don't let the squalor fool you. India's GPD is already on par with Russia's and will probably match the U.S.'s in our lifetime (assuming we're close to the same age).
By mid century the BRIC nations will be the world's economic powerhouses
"Even India"
It's not their rise from squalor that concerns me. It's our descent into squalor that has me far more worried.
"Even India"
Amen Brother, Amen....
"Even India"
> It's not their rise from squalor that concerns me. It's our descent into squalor that has me far more worried.
Without me having to google it, what does squalor really mean? I don't mean to be flippant, but I think I've been there personally. I wouldn't want our whole culture to experience it, but maybe there are some who could learn from living "in squalor."
I believe I did.
Don
"Even India"
squalor
n.
A filthy and wretched condition or quality.
"Even India"
That's what I thought, so, yep, that's where I've been.
Don
"Even India"
Consider that India still has an "untouchable" caste, the Dalit, which is relegated to poverty and only jobs such as cleaning human excrement.
And now a space program.
"Even India"
SAY WHAT?
I did never think I would see such a comment from Davey while Obama is around???
"Even India"
Obama? What does this have to do with Obama?
It's your beloved Republicans who've been working so hard to de-fund, de-regulate and shut federal government down, to ultimately send us spiraling downward into third-world status.
