Author Topic: The Official Space Exploration Thread  (Read 230440 times)

Offline Diddly

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #225 on: August 9, 2005, 02:08 PM »
Does anybody know how they get the shuttle from Edwards back to Kennedy? I don't remember any times when the shuttle landed outside of Kennedy, so I'm curious.
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Offline JediMAC

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #226 on: August 9, 2005, 02:16 PM »
I just read on CNN.com this morning that it "piggy-backs" atop a 747 all the way back...  I seem to recall seeing pix like that a long time ago, so that sounds vaguely familiar.

Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #227 on: August 9, 2005, 07:59 PM »
sfg, you're right.  The Shuttle does not use any engine power when it's landing.  After it fires it's Orbital Manuevering thrusters to degrade its orbit for reentry, it's basically a glider.


It's really cool when it lands, all you hear are the sonic booms and then nothing.

Bingo!  ;)

Does anybody know how they get the shuttle from Edwards back to Kennedy? I don't remember any times when the shuttle landed outside of Kennedy, so I'm curious.

I just read on CNN.com this morning that it "piggy-backs" atop a 747 all the way back... I seem to recall seeing pix like that a long time ago, so that sounds vaguely familiar.

Double bingo.  ;)

The shuttle will be loaded on top of the 747 using the Shuttle Mate-Demate Device (MDD)




Once on and ready to go, they ferry the shuttle back to Florida ala Moonraker.  ;)



I was at Edwards Air Force Base on Sept 15th, 1986 and we saw the Mate-Demate Device and the 747 sitting in front of it.

This was my 2nd trip there, I was in Vegas during the Challenger disaster (Jan. 28, 1986). God I remember that day, we were driving out to tour the Hoover Dam and the radio was on and we heard the news. I just sat there not believing what was going on. When we returned to the hotel, my friend was in the room watching TV and said "You better look at this Dale".

What I saw was the rerun of the liftoff and then...  :'(

I knew and I broke down, damn that bottle of tequila went down. One big glass in one shot.

We were in the casino at the Imperial Palace later that day, all the TV's were on then came the speech from Ronald Regan. You could hear a pin drop as all eyes were glued to the TV's.

"We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.' "

We drove out to Edwards the next day but as we expected, it was closed. I returned that September with 2 friends and we took the tour, damn glad I did! This was the place where people and machines with the Right Stuff made history.  :)   8)

Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #228 on: August 9, 2005, 08:54 PM »


Touchdown! Discovery makes a picture-perfect landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 8:11 a.m. EDT. (Image Credit: Carla Thomas/NASA)



The sun rises on the Space Shuttle Discovery as it rests on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base, California, after a safe landing August 9, 2005 to complete the STS-114 mission. (Image Credit: Carla Thomas/NASA)



NASA's Crew Transport Vehicle, or CTV, pulls up to the Space Shuttle Discovery to offload the crew after a successful landing August 9, 2005 at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The landing marked the end of the STS-114 mission. (Image Credit: Carla Thomas/NASA)



The crew of mission STS-114 gathered in front of Discovery following landing at Edwards Air Force Base. From left to right: Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson, Commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialists Andrew Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi and Charles Camarda, and Pilot James Kelly. (Image Credit: Jim Ross/NASA)

Offline JediMAC

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #229 on: August 10, 2005, 01:07 AM »
I still can't believe they let a chick fly that thing!  :o

 :P

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #230 on: August 10, 2005, 01:54 AM »
I still can't believe they let a chick fly that thing!  :o

 :P

First female shuttle pilot: Eileen Collins was the first female shuttle pilot in 1995. She also piloted a shuttle in 1997. The pilot is the shuttle cockpit second-in-command. Later, Susan Kilrain was pilot for two shuttle missions in 1997, and Pamela Melroy piloted a shuttle in 1998.

First female shuttle commander: Eileen Collins was commander of the shuttle Columbia mission in July 1999. Susan Kilrain and Pamela Melroy are on track to become the second and third female shuttle commanders.

Man-In-Space Firsts: The First Gals

Eileen Collins -- First Female Shuttle Commander

New shuttle commander to take 'one big step for women'

 :P

Offline JediMAC

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #231 on: August 10, 2005, 02:05 AM »
First female shuttle pilot: Eileen Collins was the first female shuttle pilot in 1995. She also piloted a shuttle in 1997. The pilot is the shuttle cockpit second-in-command. Later, Susan Kilrain was pilot for two shuttle missions in 1997, and Pamela Melroy piloted a shuttle in 1998.

Damn!  Even worse than I thought!  Those NASA folks must be totally crazy...   :o

 :P

Offline Scott

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #232 on: August 10, 2005, 02:13 AM »
A guy down in Tuscon told me once that seeing the Shuttle aboard the 747 is the coolest thing he had ever seen.  I think they stop in Tucson for refueling or something

Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #233 on: August 12, 2005, 01:24 AM »
Bumpola!  :)

Coming up on Friday, August 12th is the Perseid meteor shower, worth a look if your skys are clear.

August Is The Month For Meteors

Annual celestial event returns
Perseid meteor shower to peak August 12


I was just outside a short time ago and it's a little cloudy but I did see a few meteor's. Tomorrow night there forecasting cloudy periods here.  :-\

Offline Matt_Fury

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #234 on: August 13, 2005, 07:07 PM »
Also Yesterday, NASA launched the Mars Orbiter.

Hopefully the brainiac engineers at NASA remembered to convert their units of measure this time so it will get to the correct orbit around Mars and not have a ballistic entry into it!  ::)
« Last Edit: August 24, 2005, 07:42 PM by Matt_Fury »
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Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #235 on: August 28, 2005, 07:15 AM »
Interesting stuff from Mars, the mars Rover Sprit is still going and is going and so is it's robot twin Opportunity. Spirit is now sitting atop the summit of Husband Hill.



Scenery from the summit. Spirit Mars rover is imaging a sweeping vista of martian landscape, including the walls of Gusev crater far off in the distance. Image Credit: NASA/JPL.



From its new vantage point atop Husband Hill, Spirit is surveying the landscape with rover scientists back on Earth plotting the robot’s next sortie. Image Credit: NASA/JPL.



Spirit Mars rover has rolled into position for a grand view atop Husband Hill. Note dust devils scooting by across the Gusev crater landscape. A dust devil is much like a tornado on Earth. Credit: NASA/JPL.

NASA also released an animation of dust devils scooting across the Martian surface.  :o   8)


Offline Darth_Anton

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #236 on: August 28, 2005, 12:19 PM »
Incredible landscape photo's! It's a amazing that the absence of color makes it all look less alien.
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Offline Ryan

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #237 on: August 28, 2005, 11:24 PM »
Woah, those are some cool shots! I really like that flash animation with the dust devils. :o :)
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Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #239 on: September 20, 2005, 12:01 AM »