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#860
by
chksix
on 24 Jul, 2011 15:21
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I was born just as the Apollo era began so I could be considered old and foggy
As I wrote in the FD13 thread I hope the US has the will and economic power to keep the promise of reaching further than LEO with manned flight. I want my children to have something to aspire to in the future.
What I'll specially miss with the STS gone is having the best pilots on the planet collected under one ceiling to fly those amazing vehicles. We won't need pilots in the future systems as the crew will just be passengers as the capsule returns to earth
No more John Young's or Eileen Collins'es...
The positive thing of returning to capsules is that the launches will be less fear inducing since they'll have escape towers.
I had a belly ache after each shuttle launch.
Hoping for the future...
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#861
by
Maverick
on 24 Jul, 2011 16:59
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Sorry for the delay in this article, we were working the surprise you'll find obvious when you click this 
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/07/atlantis-down-processing-mer-review-notes-flawless-return/
Really enjoyable read.
But on the other hand, I would think that very young people are more excited by the promise of the New Space companies, and regard the Shuttle as an "old fogey" program.
Any thoughts?
I'm 18 and I couldn't disagree with you more. There's nothing exciting me about the "new space programs".
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#862
by
brueyh1976
on 24 Jul, 2011 23:13
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Like a lot of people here, I grew up with the shuttle. It was the only space program I ever knew. I only really started to really follow the missions properly from STS-114. I, of course knew about both STS-51L and STS-107. I found this site back in 2008.
When Atlantis came home for the last time, I was so sad and felt so empty inside, like a part of me had died. But the end of STS is not the end but the beginning of the future.
I would like to wish everyone connected with the STS program godspeed and good luck for the future. I would like thank Chris Bergin and everyone for the amazing site that is NASA Spaceflight.com
I will still be here, won't be going anywhere
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#863
by
Chris Bergin
on 25 Jul, 2011 02:42
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#864
by
saturnapollo
on 25 Jul, 2011 08:32
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What I'll specially miss with the STS gone is having the best pilots on the planet collected under one ceiling to fly those amazing vehicles. We won't need pilots in the future systems as the crew will just be passengers as the capsule returns to earth
No more John Young's or Eileen Collins'es...
I would disagree. During the pre-shuttle era there were probably more pilot astronauts than there are now, despite flying capsules. So I don't think we are seeing the demise of the Young's or Collins'.
As is everyone on this forum, I am sad to see the end of the shuttle programme, it being a very large part of my life for the last 30 odd years. However we have to be realistic that as long as the shuttle was flying, the US could not afford to also get out of LEO. And I really, really want to see the human race get out of LEO again in my lifetime. I don't really care which nation does it, as long as the human race starts exploring space again.
Keith
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#865
by
d3jf
on 25 Jul, 2011 10:37
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#866
by
Mapperuo
on 26 Jul, 2011 10:46
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I'm 22 so again another Only-Seen-The-Shuttle person and it's been a few days now since the Shuttle has ended and I'm actually not at all sad like I was on landing day. Yes I will never see that beast launch again but it's completed the Space Station so what else could it do?
Yes I'm sure if you gave NASA the choice they could make some manifests for large cargo, but I really just don't see a glaring use for the Shuttle any more.
It could continue with crew rotations or supply food, But it just seems an extremely expensive thing to do that other vehicles do just fine.
I think we're moving into a great era, Unfortunately it could have been done with being started 3-4 years ago so there is actually a transition between Shuttle and Commercial programs.
The only thing about the era we're going to move into is the sadness of Capsules and their lack of elegance when landing, Hopefully the Dream Chaser will fill some of that lost elegance but for now I suppose we should be happy as it is a step towards cheaper and safer flight.
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#867
by
Stardust9906
on 26 Jul, 2011 19:03
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I am 47 and was around for the latter years of the Apollo missions. I have pretty much grown up with the Shuttle and feel a real sense of loss at the end of it.
The stated reason for shutting down shuttle was to bring along something better that would allow manned missions into deep space but I am pessimistic about that happening in my lifetime. I feel we have shut down a very capable system and because of the politics involved will not get the expected return for that.
I would like nothing better than to be proven wrong on this.
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#868
by
edfishel
on 26 Jul, 2011 19:21
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No, the stated reason for bringing the shuttle program to a conclusion was because of safety...the odds of killing another shuttle crew because of the complexity of the system...and the Orion/Constellation program was intended to be many times safer.
While I understand all of us feel a sense of loss as the shuttle program ends, we have been through these periods between programs before and we'll get through this one again. I was disappointed that some reporters have said this is the end of manned spaceflight. Obviously, we are still traveling to the ISS for the next decade or more...and other projects are in the works.
In my lifetime, I've been fortunate to see the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Soyuz-Apollo, Mir, Shuttle, and ISS projects.
More will come.
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#869
by
psloss
on 27 Jul, 2011 13:12
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#870
by
psloss
on 27 Jul, 2011 16:12
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Long video of the plaque-hanging ceremony yesterday in the Station and Shuttle FCRs running in the NASA TV Video File today (currently about 15 minutes into the 45 or so).
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#871
by
rocketguy101
on 27 Jul, 2011 17:33
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♫Guess what showed up on L2....♫
hint: they are spectacular!
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#872
by
Space Pete
on 27 Jul, 2011 19:20
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Final Shuttle Crew Honors Flight Control Teams.
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#873
by
edfishel
on 27 Jul, 2011 19:39
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Wow! That speech in the final 15 minutes (and all of it) was terrific.
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#874
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 31 Jul, 2011 15:29
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#875
by
Space Pete
on 02 Aug, 2011 20:52
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#876
by
psloss
on 02 Aug, 2011 21:05
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#877
by
Chris Bergin
on 02 Aug, 2011 21:07
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Hopefully they will youtube his interview.
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#878
by
Naito
on 02 Aug, 2011 21:09
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#879
by
robertross
on 02 Aug, 2011 22:25
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