Final Launch of Discovery

[Michael Dearworth]

Congratulations to Space Shuttle Discovery on its final launch today at 4:53PM EST from the Kennedy Space Center. The space shuttle program has been one of the biggest sources of innovation in technology, and it's sad to see it coming to an end.

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

;.(

Can't wait for the next generation of transport. Even if it doesn't look as cool as the shuttle.

 

[paulherrin]

i hope it looks like the ship from Sunshine!

if you haven't seen it, watch it!

 

[Petr Dvorak]

Last chance to shoot Space Shuttle on orbit in 3-5k with RED is out ....

 

[Mike P.]

Does that mean there are no plans for a follow up shuttle program?

 

[Michael Dearworth]

Does that mean there are no plans for a follow up shuttle program?

None

 

[Michael Hastings]

Congratulations to Space Shuttle Discovery on its final launch today at 4:53PM EST from the Kennedy Space Center. The space shuttle program has been one of the biggest sources of innovation in technology, and it's sad to see it coming to an end.

I'm a total space buff - shot a number of launches at the press site including the first on a redone (STD-122) - BUT if we are honest the shuttle program really hasnt been that much of a source of innovation (certainly not like the original mercury/Gemini/Apollo). The problem was that lack of support from congress at the beginning created a severely watered down version that never came close to dramatically reducing the cost per pound to orbit or the rapid turnaround originally envisioned. A shuttle really only makes much sense if you need to bring something back. Otherwise your payload capabilities are wasted with hauling the truck/trailer up. The space station could have been lifted in 5 or 6 Saturn 5 launches instead of 30 or so shuttle launches. The concept of reusability (and tragically, reliability) were drastically oversold. In reality, refurbishment turned out to be as expensive and more time consuming than expendable rockets.

 

[Michael Dearworth]

the shuttle program really hasnt been that much of a source of innovation

I strongly disagree. The shutte program has provided hundreds of innovations that play a part in our everyday lives. I don't have time to find a more detailed source, but this will do. http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/pdf/Shuttle_spinoffs.pdf

 

[IAN SUN]

Michaels both of you are right.:cheers2:

As The Most Complex Machine Ever Built(tm), the Shuttle program has been a fulcrum for the development of many technologies. However it was "just" a space truck to LEO, and consuming as it did most of the relatively paltry resources allocated to NASA, the manned space program is still parked right there in low earth orbit.
We need vision.

Hopefully private space ventures will give us a kick. Some one needs to figure out how to monetize an asteroid.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

i hope it looks like the ship from Sunshine!

if you haven't seen it, watch it!

Thanks for recommending this!, i just finished watching this its absolutely incredible!

Redusers! watch Sunshine!

 

[Petr Dvorak]

Yea we like Sunshine

 

[paulherrin]

glad ya'll enjoyed it!

 

[Michael Olsen]

Does that mean there are no plans for a follow up shuttle program?

I think a simple "No" to this question would be less than accurate. NASA has plans - they've always had plans. What they never had was all the money they needed to make those plans into a reality. Now, that belt is being tightened further, in a way - the government is hoping the private sector will step up.

Which makes sense, because companies like Lockheed Martin have had plans for space for some time now.

It's very possible that we will begin to see some very innovative approaches to space soon. Of course, the opposite is true - we could end up with quite a dry spell.