Posted on 05/31/2011 1:50:14 PM PDT by Dave346
“But until then, America will have to depend on for some time, like it or not on the Russians for space flight. This bothers me, oh well.”
No doubt! Me too.
It is also true, though, that right now manned space flight is not a critical capability. Look at the capabilities of the new classified military mini-shuttle.
I will be more excited about manned space flight again when the goal is a permanent colony on the Moon. I think it will take nuclear spacecraft to really open up the Moon and the rest of the solar system.
BTW, it’s great that Endeavour made it home safely - just one more mission for those 70’s era birds.
Thanks Kevin!!
Nice tribute.
Judging from Commander Kelly's comments post-landing, he's not accepting it either. He made a point of saying Endeavour is in great shape and could fly more missions but must be retired.
Here in Los Angeles, the news story was about how Endeavour will reside at the Science Museum near the Coliseum.
The evening news actually featured the progress of the shuttle post-de orbit burn as it approached Florida and then showed a minute and a half of the landing... LIVE... although I suspect delayed a few seconds.
As a local radio host said, "We can all exhale now." That is always the feeling. Congratulations STS-134 crew and welcome home.
Apparently they landed in FL because that’s where the equipment is to detoxify the shuttle.
It won’t make it to CA for a year or so.
There are hazardous materials and fluids that need to be removed. No facility or personnel to do that out in California. Would cost more to get a facility built up to support. Plus the Science center won’t be ready to accept Endeavour for awhile.
I'll be one of the first to see Endeavour close up, when it comes back home to California.
We are putting trees in tree museums and space shuttles in space museums. We are paving paradise. Obama hates jobs.
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