Shuttle Discovery retires with Washington flypast

BBC News ^ | 4/17/12 | BBC

[NormsRevenge]

[NormsRevenge]

Shuttle Discovery

-Discovery was Nasa’s third operational shuttle, launched on 30 August 1984
-Carried Hubble Telescope into space in 1990
-Flew 39 missions - more than any other ship in Nasa’s fleet
-Participated in both the “Return to Flight” missions, after the Challenger and Columbia disasters
-Named after boats that undertook historic voyages of exploration, such as the vessel that discovered Hawaii and searched for the Northwest Passage

Source: Nasa

[al baby]

I can’t help believe that as a country our manned capability is over

[Huskrrrr]

Get a room!!

[rarestia]

I can’t help believe that as a country our manned capability is over

I cried today thinking the very same think.

Barack Obama is the biggest mistake ever voted into any office in this country. If there was a poster boy for abortion, it should be Barack Hussein Obama.

[NorCoGOP]

Had the 747 been towing a banner that said "Obama: thanks for nothing"...that would have been impressive...

[Talisker]

How appropriate for Obamaville - the Statue of Freedom on the top of the Capitol has been locked up in a cage, as our last way into space is shut down - all under the gaze of an obelisk.

Nothing to see here people, move along.

[RexBeach]

I saw the shuttle fly by my building THREE times! It was wonderful, but sad as well.

I recall very well the first shuttle flight. It was a wonderful event for science AND the nation.

Mr. Obama has imagination only for wasteful government spending.

The manned space program gave America pride and lots of useful technology.

[FreeAtlanta]

The Democrats and with the help of willing Republicans efforts to bankrupt our nation will make it very difficult to move forward on space travel.

It really is treason.

[ArcadeQuarters]

Great view for the workers on the scaffolding!

[dk88]

As much as I love this comment, the shuttle is 40+ year old technology.

[dainbramaged]

If the followup to the Apollo program had been building a base on the moon, think about what it would be like today some 40+ years later.

[Josa]

Yes it is old technology but it still boggles the mind that NASA didn’t not keep at least on shuttled moth-balled at Kennedy Space Center.

[Conan the Librarian]

Tried to catch if flying up the coast, but, it was just too cloudy here.

I did see the Enterprise do a similar flyover about 30 years ago.

[geege]

How awful....Never thought an Imposter would do away with our wonderful space program....Hope Romney restore’s it....

[HokieMom]

We were fortunate to see it fly over today. It was thrilling and sad. The American spirit is stronger than any president.

[jmcenanly]

I can’t help believe that as a country our manned capability is over
It isn't over, but it is going to be some time before an American crew leaves for the ISS from Florida, rather than Kazakhstan. Depending on how things work outover the next few weeks, that day may come sooner, rather than later

[lacrew]

Cost of Shuttle program in recent years - $3 billion a year
Cost of Cash for Clunkers - $3 billion
Cost Stimulus - $787 billion

2011 expenditures - $3.36 trillion
Percent of federal budget the shuttle program would have been -0.09%

How long does it take for the feds to spend $3 billion in 2011? 8 hours