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#20 by robertross on 20 Jul, 2011 01:37
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#21 by Mapperuo on 20 Jul, 2011 01:39
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And I wake up for the last shuttle wake up.
I assume they'll be waking up tomorrow for the last time no? -
#22 by DwightM on 20 Jul, 2011 01:43
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It would certainly take some stress out of the landing if they did.And I wake up for the last shuttle wake up.
I assume they'll be waking up tomorrow for the last time no? -
#23 by jessjess on 20 Jul, 2011 01:44
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tomorrow and Thursday early AM is going to make me cry. I can't believe this is it. -
#24 by karizma23 on 20 Jul, 2011 01:45
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Chris, I really appreciate the opportunity to say a few words about the Shuttle Program and its meaning to me. Thank you.
I was born basically when the Shuttle was, so this magnificent vehicle has been a part of my life forever. I don't know of a time when there weren't Shuttle launches and flights. To come to grips with the fact that this truly is the end of an era has been difficult for me. I feel like a part of my life is going away! I can't imagine what those folks who've been intimately involved in the Shuttle Program are going through, as I've only been an observer from afar, but I have to imagine it's very, very difficult. It's their life and livelihood. I certainly wish those folks well.
I never was able to see a live Shuttle launch. It will forever be a regret. But I saw many of them on TV, and I will go down saying that it is simply one of the most breath-taking, exhilarating, exciting, heart-pounding, adrenaline-filled events a human being can watch! It is truly a spectacle to behold.
We all know that the future of manned/human spaceflight is, at least for now in the US, uncertain. The Shuttle Program has been for 30 years a constant we could all count on. An old friend, if you will. And, at the risk of sounding cheesy, I consider these machines -- the Shuttles -- my old friends. They've inspired my imagination, invigorated my passions, and made my heart swell with pride. They've accomplished amazing things. They are more than vehicles.
So, to my friends - Atlantis, Discovery, Endeavour -- and yes, your fallen sisters Challenger and Columbia, never to be forgotten - I say thank you for your service, from a very, very grateful nation. Godspeed, friends! -
#25 by Orbiter on 20 Jul, 2011 01:49
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The last full day of a space shuttle on orbit.. not sure what to say right now.
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#26 by jessjess on 20 Jul, 2011 02:00
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Karizma23- nice post. Same here. Started following the Shuttle program when I was a wee one during the Challenger accident. So happy to see STS-133 liftoff with my husband and two little ones. Hopefully my 4 year old will never forget it.
Chris, and all the other awesome contributors to this forum- Thank you for all that you do! I don't post much but I read and learn a lot from you. -
#27 by robertross on 20 Jul, 2011 02:03
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View from space, from the ISS
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#28 by spacedog71 on 20 Jul, 2011 02:06
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here in the mid-atlantic, the last visible pass of the ISS was july 5th... and the next visible pass will be july 23rd.
never got to see atlantis dancing overhead, not even once. there were such great passes for STS-133 and STS-134, both together with the ISS and chasing each other across the sky after separation and before landing, i'd just assumed... but no.
i can't believe this is it. -
#29 by mahannd on 20 Jul, 2011 02:14
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here in the mid-atlantic, the last visible pass of the ISS was july 5th... and the next visible pass will be july 23rd.
never got to see atlantis dancing overhead, not even once. there were such great passes for STS-133 and STS-134, both together with the ISS and chasing each other across the sky after separation and before landing, i'd just assumed... but no.
i can't believe this is it.
i feel the same. if i would have known there would not be a chance to see sts-135 flyover i would have spent much more time than i did getting a shot of 134 after undocking. Now i wish i could fly somewhere they will pass over just to see them both race across the sky one more time. -
#30 by GoForTLI on 20 Jul, 2011 02:15
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#31 by Lee Jay on 20 Jul, 2011 02:26
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here in the mid-atlantic, the last visible pass of the ISS was july 5th... and the next visible pass will be july 23rd.
never got to see atlantis dancing overhead, not even once. there were such great passes for STS-133 and STS-134, both together with the ISS and chasing each other across the sky after separation and before landing, i'd just assumed... but no.
i can't believe this is it.
i feel the same. if i would have known there would not be a chance to see sts-135 flyover i would have spent much more time than i did getting a shot of 134 after undocking. Now i wish i could fly somewhere they will pass over just to see them both race across the sky one more time.
If I were you, I'd look at the ISS all passes list on Heavens above and see if there's one just after sunrise in your area tomorrow morning. You might be able to catch that one even though the math says it won't be "visible". If you know where to look and when, you might see both of them. -
#32 by stockman on 20 Jul, 2011 02:39
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#33 by robertross on 20 Jul, 2011 02:45
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Well, for me, my first real memory of the space shuttle program was the 747 carrying Enterprise on its cross-country & cross-border tour in 1983. I heard on the news it was coming into Ottawa, Ontario, and I lived not too far from the airport, so when it came in it circled right over our house. Quite the experience for a soon-to-be teenager. My father was starting into flying, and would take me up now and then and taught me some flying lessons in Cessnas; so he was more than willing to bring me there to her. Seeing the immense pair on the tarmack was a sight to behold. I have a Polaroid of the pair somewhere.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29444783@N05/4112457208/
(not my photo)
I had followed the space shuttle off and on over the years, especially for the Canadarm, but the heartfelt sadness learning of the Challenger tragedy was something else. I remember the day after when I was at school quite vividly. But again, life took over and I continued on as many do. Not having the internet back then was a major hinderence. But when the Columbia tragedy happened, and again that was one of those moments you remember vividly, it was like the world was ending. That was a real emotional shocker. I can't watch the re-entry images any more - it's too painful.
But out of that that came a new found love of the space program, and of NASA & the orbiters. Having the opportunity to meet CSA astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason was a real treat. During missions I would run to the TV whenever there was something on of a launch, but there just wasn't the coverage in Canada back then. However in the last ten years I have been following spaceflight quite steadily online, and when I found this site, I was just agast at all that I was missing. Shuttle hugging took on a whole new meaning
So with some financial luck, I managed to see my first space shuttle launch, of Atlantis, for STS-132. I guess your first is always you best, and I have to admit that brilliant yellow beam of light at lift-off, like the filament of an incandescent light bulb, is now etched in my retina. And the sound...that rapping sound that slices through you...that, you NEVER forget. And it also made me find a great bunch of people who absolutely LOVE this, perhaps even more so than me, and that was a great thrill.
Luck would now be stretched as I pushed my boundaries financially, and with my new found launch bug, tried for launch #2 and Endeavour for STS-134. But as fate would have it, that all got turned around with some unforeseen ET stringer issues, and Discovery's final flight with STS-133 became my new found love. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see her off. I must confess she wasn't my #1 pick of orbiters (I wanted to see Endeavour!), but considering her long pedigree and heritage, you wouldn;t find me complaining
So off I went, most of my original bookings intact, and for the second time of my life had my lifelong dream come true: a shuttle launch. I also threw caution to the wind and got a used 600mm lens for the launch, along with 1.4 telecoverter, and was super impressed with both the pad & launch images (not to mention the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge...joy). It certainly didn't hurt having it 2 for 2 for launches on time and without a scrub. And as a special treat, I got to see the rolllover of Atlantis to the VAB, which was an extra special moment. So with that good fortune, and no fortune left, I called to an end my shuttle launch experience. I say that with a sad heart, but also glad I did get to see two seperate girls launch, and that to me, STS-132 was 'supposed' to be Atlantis' last flight, and still hold to that small consolation.
So with the end of the shuttle program now upon us, my deepest thanks go first and foremost to Chris Bergin, for without this most awesome website I would not have truly had my life long dream come true - seeing a shuttle launch, and for a renewed passion for spaceflight & what it can offer the world.
Second, to the wonderful people on here who make this place a reality, especially our most incredible sources for information to feed our insatiable appetite.
Last but not least, to the workers of the shuttle program, who have built the most impressive, most beautiful, and most capable spacecraft ever to fly. It has been an absolute privledge to have been around throughout their wonderful careers, and see them fly, and it is from your dedication and hard work that made them as they are today, as they fly into the sunset into positions of dignified glory to the United States of America: of what can be accomplished by a nation that has the courrage to be bold and reach for the stars.
Thank you, and God Bless. -
#34 by spacedog71 on 20 Jul, 2011 02:46
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here in the mid-atlantic, the last visible pass of the ISS was july 5th... and the next visible pass will be july 23rd.
If I were you, I'd look at the ISS all passes list on Heavens above and see if there's one just after sunrise in your area tomorrow morning. You might be able to catch that one even though the math says it won't be "visible". If you know where to look and when, you might see both of them.
a worthy idea for others to try, but i'd already gone there -- they passed overhead a little before 4 this afternoon, and the ISS next appears about 45 minutes after sunrise/atlantis's landing tomorrow morning.
in the parlance of the program, "no joy".
thanks, though... -
#35 by trekkie604 on 20 Jul, 2011 02:53
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My first visit to KSC was in '98 and on the tour we saw Node 1 during proccessing. That was my first view of actual hardware for the space program, aside from watching launch overage sporadically on TV. Awesome to see ISS complete, a true testament to the SSP.
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#36 by Longhorn John on 20 Jul, 2011 03:04
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Live shot of Pad 39A. Next vehicle: SLS (TBA).
Thank you to Chris and the NSF team for this opportunity, for the site, for L2, which is totally mindblowing, and for having a big community of like minded people, well most of the time
I too will save my thoughts and tributes for after she is on the ground, but for now Hail Atlantis, Hail her crew, Hail her pad rats, hail her OPF and VAB engineers, hail JSC, KSC, Marshall and all the centers and contractors.
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#37 by Martin FL on 20 Jul, 2011 03:09
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CABIN STOWAGE BEGINS - Just over two hours away.
Thank you everyone. Best space flight site around. L2 rocks my world. So glad this site will lead the future with the commercial vehicles, ISS, Orion and SLS, but the planet will miss these amazing shuttles, nevermind just us. The world, for a time, will be a lesser place when Atlantis comes to a stop on the SLF.
I have nothing but respect for them and their teams. -
#38 by robertross on 20 Jul, 2011 03:09
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Entry team on console
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#39 by Lee Jay on 20 Jul, 2011 03:09
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a worthy idea for others to try, but i'd already gone there -- they passed overhead a little before 4 this afternoon, and the ISS next appears about 45 minutes after sunrise/atlantis's landing tomorrow morning.
They aren't landing tomorrow morning.
