Just watched the Space Shuttle Atlantis making her final launch. It nearly didn't happen, the vent fitting on top of the main tank failed to retract properly. An awesome sight when it happened, and everything went OK. It's a great pity to see the USA backing out of manned spaceflight. We gave up a lot earlier with Black Javelin. I hope they start again one day, but I have a feeling the next man on the Moon will be Chinese.
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Final Space Shuttle Flight
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Yes, I watched it as I do all of them, time permitting.
The USA are not pulling out though, there are several manned replacement vehicles ready for test over the coming months developed by private companies along with NASA.
It was actually talked about on one of the preview programmes whereby the common conception was indeed that the US were backing out of manned spaceflight when in fact, its the total opposite.
Well, let's hope you're right. I was under the impression that they had cancelled Orion (would have called it Artemis, personally).
OMS-2 burn is done, and Atlantis is in catch-up orbit for the ISS.
I hope I am right, it was a senior NASA executive that was talking about it.
Yes, the Orion project announced under the Bush administration then subsequently cancelled by Obama has gone so no plans for manned trips to the moon are now on the horizon. However, manned spaceflight will continue with regards to the ISS and they are confident that they will only be relying on Russian vehicles for a maximum of two years.
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Minilad
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I was in Florida on a family holiday when STS-120 with Discovery took off.
Although I was in Orlando I could clearly see the take off and it was breathtaking. The plume of contrail left in its wake was an amazing sight.
I visited the Dryden test centre at Edwards a year later which was another fantastic experience
Although I was in Orlando I could clearly see the take off and it was breathtaking. The plume of contrail left in its wake was an amazing sight.
I visited the Dryden test centre at Edwards a year later which was another fantastic experience
passmore
Member
Having been old enough to remember the Moon landings, this is a poignant moment for all of us.
I'm just sad the next generation won't ever experience the joy of seeing man set foot on a distant world.
I don't remember that, but do have some footage of the launch, which never ceases to amaze. One I did see live was Concorde's final service takeoff, which I filmed from outside Hatton Cross Tube station, right underneath the flightpath. Loudest thing I've ever heard.
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I'm thinking of going there next year. Are there any Amtrak services that run nearby?
Minilad
Established Member
Yes there is a service from New York to Orlando via Philly Washington and Charleston. The Silver Service I think
Lovely pictures. Makes me nostalgic just looking at them!
Hydro
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I once saw, quite by chance, Concorde taking off from Manston in Kent from a friends garden. The sight and sound will stay with me forever. I've seen Concorde on take off, and a Vulcan in flight, and I think my small aviation interests have probably been satisfied forever.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
It certainly is the end of an era, which saw two of these missions end in disaster. Those brave voyagers should never be forgotten. There always was the worry of the external tiles being damaged by debris during the take off, which was never really satisfactorally resolved. This must have always been in the minds of the mission personnel.
TackerUK
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Well its never been denied that the US Air Force had 2 Space Shuttles for secret missions. So maybe it isnt the last shuttle launch
The payloads were secret, the missons weren't. It was just classified as what they were taking up there, there were never any extra shuttles.
flymo
Established Member
The launch video is up on YouTube
This is one aspect of the Shuttle I will miss, those launch videos are amazing to see.
Disclaimer - As it is on YouTube, some of the comments are somewhat forthright to say the least...
This is one aspect of the Shuttle I will miss, those launch videos are amazing to see.
Disclaimer - As it is on YouTube, some of the comments are somewhat forthright to say the least...
I'm so sad that they're being withdrawn 
I've put a picture up on my profile to commemorate it. Luckily I have the NΛSA app on my iPod so I'll be able to see all the pictures of Atlantis as it is in space docked with the ISS. I have a huge interest in astronomy and I'm annoyed that USA government have cut funding for NASA - it will certainly delay the first man on mars
I've put a picture up on my profile to commemorate it. Luckily I have the NΛSA app on my iPod so I'll be able to see all the pictures of Atlantis as it is in space docked with the ISS. I have a huge interest in astronomy and I'm annoyed that USA government have cut funding for NASA - it will certainly delay the first man on marsAtlantis is now undocked safely from the station, due to land on Thursday at 10:57 our time. I've been following the coverage on NASA TV, and it showed them leaving a flag on the station for the next American spacecraft to pick up and take home. No idea when that will be or what it will be, but I hope that something else does visit the station before 2020, when it is supposed to deorbit.
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And the Shuttle programme comes to an end with a perfect landing. Always a relief when that happens. End of an era, but let's hope a new one begins in a few years. CTS-100 or Dragon might be up and running within a few years. Not sure whether we will get a manned ATV, but Russia carries the flag for now.
I'm going to see a shuttle at some point, hopefully next year.
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And the Shuttle programme comes to an end with a perfect landing. Always a relief when that happens. End of an era, but let's hope a new one begins in a few years. CTS-100 or Dragon might be up and running within a few years. Not sure whether we will get a manned ATV, but Russia carries the flag for now.
I'm going to see a shuttle at some point, hopefully next year.
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