Shuttle Discovery a look back...

Originally posted by SaganTool
Thanks for the memories!
Good thread.
My favorite shuttle is Atlantis. I went to Florida with some University buddies to witness my fellow Canadian Chris Hadfield launch on Atlantis back in 1995. And again saw Atlantis (STS-122) launch in February 2008, this time married with my wife and my 3 year old daughter riding on my shoulders as seen in this home movie SaganTool's STS-122 Experience. Its such a experience being there to see a shuttle launch, and I envy thoes whoi live near the coast and can witness them all! I am really going to miss the shuttle fleet, i'm in my mid 30's, and the shuttles are what I grew up on, and vicariously explored space with. I can still remember Marc Garneau's first flight for a Canadian, way back in 1984! I was 10, yikes! The entire flight was broadcast live on a special channel dedicated to his flight, I was in heaven! I'm going to miss each and every one of them! sigh...

Nice video! Yeah people really do plan vacations around launches. To some it's like going to Disney for the weekend. It's awesome if you ask me. I would rather have done that as a kid than see Mickey and have the crazy characters chase me around the park and take my hat

I like Atlantis too but that probably has more to do with the mysterious place of Atlantis.

Yeah I love the NASA channel. I watch it sometimes just for fun or have it on in the background. The day of a launch it's on all day. This time I shall call in and listen in on the launch. I will be happy as a clam all by myself and in my own little world most people I know here could never understand.

Living on the coast this close is great but everyone does take it for granted, just like the beach. You think "oh the shuttle, it will go again." Now everyone wishes they paid attention more now that it's gone and I ask them why it took it closing down for them to want to pay attention.

I remember going to the space center for field trips various times in school It was like going to the police station yearly lol.I always like it but was teased for it so I kept it to myself, but secretly I loved when we went there. I remember having dipping dots the first time and space food..which isn't all that bad.

I remember the huge display of the planets and picking Mars as my favorite. I don't know why, maybe cause it was the "red" planet but it was a place of interest to me. I like the shows we watched at the KSC. They had shows for field trips. It was great!

I hope to be able to go to a closer location for this launch.

reply to post by mblahnikluver


There will always be people in this world who disbelieve photos. We all know that the shuttle has been de-commissioned. I won't say anymore...

Originally posted by OutKast Searcher
S&F mblah.


I wish I could see a night launch. I saw a launch when I was down in florida in 2009...it may be the craziest thing I have ever seen...it is just amazing.

You are lucky you live so close and can watch them all the time.

Great pictures and videos, thanks for putting in the time to put this together.

Thanks OKS

Night launches are the best and it's cool because EVERYONE is outside looking anytime the shuttle goes up but mostly for night launches. It really lights up everything around.

I remember SR 44 in New Smyrna years ago being lined with cars from the bridge ALL the way down about 14 miles to where I lived. It was nuts, cars where pulled on the sides of the road looking up. It was a night launch and I was coming from work. I just pulled over and looked out the sunroof. Traffic is NOT before or after a launch.

reply to post by mblahnikluver


The pics ARE awesome; however, it's sort of against T&C's to post external content without crediting the original source.

Besides, I like to know where awesome pics come from so that I may frequent such sites for more astounding pics in the future.

Wow Mblah - what a fitting final mission tribute you have put together here. The boys at NASA would be proud - I hope you send them a link for this thread so they can see just how passionate about this you really are. Show them that the images they sent you are put to very good use! Very nice job.

Fantatsic thread mblah!

Very informative and well written, and most of all, interesting

S & F

Here's when she visited CA in 2005.

Sorry - been lurking a while, but just now decided to join & post.

Here's another pic of her, visiting us here in CA.








eta: these are private photos... is that ok to post?

reply to post by daraSD


Your first Star from Me - Thanks for the pics! And welcome aboard new Member! Hope you have a great journey with us

Originally posted by hhcore
Wow Mblah - what a fitting final mission tribute you have put together here. The boys at NASA would be proud - I hope you send them a link for this thread so they can see just how passionate about this you really are. Show them that the images they sent you are put to very good use! Very nice job.

Thanks HH I will send a link to my friend who sent the pics. I am actually gonna use this thread for a speech in my class. I figured I already know the info so might as well use it for an assignment..

Thanks for the pic help too!

reply to post by daraSD



Very cool pics! Did you take these yourself or did someone you know?

Private pics are fine, yes. These are awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Loving these 'real' photos and video's lately - nice step forward mblah

reply to post by Im a Marty


Woohoo thanks! I love those videos

I hope I can get closer this time although I LOVE my view, but going out there would be awesome!

I will be stationed on my balcony if not

Thanks Marty

reply to post by mblahnikluver


We have to ask ourselves, what will replace the shuttle? I don't think NASA is so stupid to leave the ISS flights in Russia's hands only. COME ON - NASA must have a trick up their sleeve.... Or do they? What do you guys think?

Originally posted by TortoiseKweek
reply to post by mblahnikluver

 

We have to ask ourselves, what will replace the shuttle? I don't think NASA is so stupid to leave the ISS flights in Russia's hands only. COME ON - NASA must have a trick up their sleeve.... Or do they? What do you guys think?

Yeah I am sure they have something planned. It will just be different than the shuttle. I don't see them not ever going back to space.

Leaving the ISS in Russia's hands? Haven't we already worked together with other countries. Just because we aren't sending anyone to space from the US doesn't mean we aren't helping other countries and vice versa.

reply to post by mblahnikluver


This is one of my favourite Discovery Launches

Great tribute thread, thanks for posting it. Here are my best shots of Discovery launching:

reply to post by ngchunter


Nice pics! I love the up close launch pics...again ESP at night!

Originally posted by TortoiseKweek
reply to post by mblahnikluver

 

We have to ask ourselves, what will replace the shuttle? I don't think NASA is so stupid to leave the ISS flights in Russia's hands only. COME ON - NASA must have a trick up their sleeve.... Or do they? What do you guys think?

Well I hear Richard B of Virgin has that space orbiter thingamajig....

Maybe NASA will contract out to Virgin to design and implement new technologies for 'Discovery' based shuttles

Sorry, but here in the West of Oz - i'm pretty sure there's no Space Shuttle launch pad!

These pics and videos are incredible, i would love to go and see a launch one day. The discovery shuttle has been amazing.

This thread has got me wondering what the replacement shuttle will look like. I guess we will find out in due course.

Great thread!!