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#220
by
hutchel
on 20 Jul, 2011 12:53
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I discovered this site back in 2005 or 6 and immediately joined L2 - I've been an almost daily lurker ever since. Thanx to all who have contributed and allowed us mere mortals to get a glimpse into this amazing world where only professionals need apply.
I don't recall which year it was, but while I was at the USAF Academy Enterprise made an airborne visit - I think on the way to the Paris Air Show. I still have those amazing pictures riding atop the 747.
I was a Sr for Challenger accident. I remember distinctly walking back from class when someone said that Challenger had "exploded". As a Sr I had a TV in my room and ran back to see. I remember sitting there expecting/ hoping that the shuttle would emerge from the expanding cloud. Alas it did not and the whole world paused to pay homage.
As you might guess I've been with the USAF ever since. I'm a computer geek of sorts and the remark very early on in the program that finding computer programmers to support the program consumed nearly 25% of those available nationwide. I was too late. I've forever regretted not working in the space world and although I tried a couple of times to see a launch, fickle weather and technology thwarted that. My Dad and his wife live outside of Orlando and can see the launches from their backyard. They've seen a bunch "at a distance" but never in person either.
The Shuttle has always been an amazing vehicle - pushing the absolute boundries of what we can do with technology. As I live in the DC area, I plan to see Discovery in person when she's brought here to replace Enterprise whom I've seen now several times.
I'm a fan of all things spaceflight. Spaceflight challenges us to not be satisfied with what we have now, do what has never been done, to be better than we have ever been and finally it's allowed us to reach out and explore and learn in ways never before possible. It defines the quest for knowledge. I celebrate those that have flown and those that have made flying of all vehicles manned and unmanned possible.
I look forward to the next phase of American Spaceflight as well as watch with facination the efforts of other countries to join in this noble pursuit.
Lt Col Hutchins, USAFR
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#221
by
brueyh1976
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:04
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I'm keeping my game face on today and will post my words after wheels stop tomorrow
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#222
by
Bubbinski
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:19
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I have been an aviation and spaceflight freak my whole life.
I have a distant memory of doing a book report about the upcoming shuttle program before it flew. I remember watching STS-1 on the black and white TV when I was a kid up at the family cabin, then watching the landing 2 days later with my fellow elementary school kids. I was so happy when my grandpa bought me the Revell 747/shuttle kit.
I remember hearing about astronauts doing "Buck Rogers" spacewalks with the MMU. I remember being in math class when the teacher came in and said Challenger exploded. I remember watching the shuttle return to flight triumphantly at the start of my senior year. I remember tuning to CNN to watch all the shuttle flights afterwards in the pre-internet days. I remember going to KSC for the first time and seeing Discovery at the pad preparing for launch, a launch scheduled in 2 weeks. I remember being hugely disappointed when it was found the Hubble had a flaw in the mirror as I was looking forward to seeing its pictures. I remember watching nonstop coverage of STS-49 and STS-61, the Hubble repair. I remember seeing the 3 astronauts grab that satellite in the payload bay. I remember being very happy at the results of the Hubble repair.
I remember seeing the first video of the shuttle undocking from Mir on CNN. I remember looking up and watching the shuttle orbiters - and sometimes Mir and later ISS - fly overhead as bright dots in the sky. I remember the inflatable antenna mission. I remember watching hours of live coverage of astronauts doing spacewalks, floating in the flight deck, floating in Spacelab and Spacehab, floating in ISS.
I remember John Glenn flying aboard the shuttle. I remember the first ISS assembly flight and all those that came after. I remember getting up to see STS-107 reenter only to be foiled by clouds. Then I remember CNN saying there was a problem with the shuttle and seeing pictures of the shuttle breaking up over Texas. I remember the recovery effort afterwards. I remember STS-114 and seeing the shuttle's RPM manuever for the first time. The astronaut at the end of the arm under the shuttle's belly pulling a gapfiller. The STS-121 launch on the 4th of July. Seeing Shuttle and ISS flying over, seeing ISS grow larger and larger over the years. Going to Florida for STS-104 and seeing the shuttle turn night into day. Seeing STS-117 launch with her repaired tank from the KSC visitor's center. Seeing STS-125 launch from the causeway and watching the final Hubble repair on NASA TV. Logging onto NSF.com and following all the shuttle flights from STS-114 and 121 onwards. And I will remember the final flight, going to the Clark Planetarium to view shuttle on the IMAX screen and sweating out the drama at T-31 seconds.
I can only hope we will have future memories as good or better. When I'm on my deathbed I want to remember seeing astronauts go back to another world. I want to remember boarding a commercial spaceflight. I want to remember amazing life altering discoveries from ISS. I want to remember a triumphant return of Americans to space aboard a commercial vehicle or a vehicle that can go beyond earth orbit. I want to remember a true replacement winged shuttle or large SSTO spaceplane like Skylon. I want to remember that through dark times in our country's history we kept going into space, kept exploring, paving the way for colonies and trips to Mars.
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#223
by
TFGQ
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:35
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i post my thoughts after the wheels stop
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#224
by
racshot65
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:45
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Over DFRC doing comms checks
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#225
by
lcs
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:47
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Considering this is the last live video pass over the US from the shuttle ever, you'd think they would just let it run and not replay the ascent video package yet another time.
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#226
by
Mapperuo
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:51
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Considering this is the last live video pass over the US from the shuttle ever, you'd think they would just let it run and not replay the ascent video package yet another time.
Just be grateful it's that and not the 1h 20m William Shatnar thing.
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#227
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:51
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Probably a gap in comms for the videos.
This is great.
Dryden comm checks.
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#228
by
arkaska
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:52
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Amazing views above Bakersfield and Death Valley in Californa
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#229
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:52
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Considering this is the last live video pass over the US from the shuttle ever, you'd think they would just let it run and not replay the ascent video package yet another time.
Just be grateful it's that and not the 1h 20m William Shatnar thing.
Steady! That Shatner video is epic!
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#230
by
Mapperuo
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:53
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Considering this is the last live video pass over the US from the shuttle ever, you'd think they would just let it run and not replay the ascent video package yet another time.
Just be grateful it's that and not the 1h 20m William Shatnar thing.
Steady! That Shatner video is epic!
Oh I TOTALLY agree, But I've seen it and would rather see the final live Shuttle video. (Same with the Ascent highlights)
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#231
by
arkaska
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:56
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They are delaying the highlights since shuttle have downlink coverage
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#232
by
racshot65
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:56
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#233
by
Swee
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:58
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"Considering this is the last live video pass over the US from the shuttle ever, you'd think they would just let it run and not replay the ascent video package yet another time. "
Seems you've been heard, the ascent video has been delayed, thank goodness.
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#234
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:58
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They are delaying the highlights since shuttle have downlink coverage
There we go
Josh knows the score
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#235
by
MS6
on 20 Jul, 2011 13:59
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They are delaying the highlights since shuttle have downlink coverage
THANKS JOSH!
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#236
by
racshot65
on 20 Jul, 2011 14:00
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#237
by
Bubbinski
on 20 Jul, 2011 14:00
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Here's a shot of the shuttle flying over the Atlantic or east coast. My last screenshot of a shuttle ever.
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#238
by
psloss
on 20 Jul, 2011 14:00
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There's about a seven minute gap between TDRS-049 and TDRS-174 in the about forty minutes that Josh noted.
Not sure if that's the last video, but it might be the last States pass with live video.
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#239
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Jul, 2011 14:00
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"We're just going to sit back and enjoy the view as Atlantis flies" - Josh.
Screenshot time folks. Still working the article as a boat load of new info came into L2. Want it to be as fresh as possible.
