Yes, It's flying over Houston right now.
Will stay over, continueing on its last journey....to L.A.....

Why did Houston not receive one of the retired Shuttles for display??
Politics ??

I've seen a shuttle or 2 fly into Sheppard AFB outside of Wichita Falls Texas.

The whole 747 piggyback ride thing is just amazing to see. It also speaks volumes on how much weight a 747 can really carry

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

The shuttle's did good work and fascinated the whole world for many years. We all have fond memories of them.

Time to start building the next generation of rockets!

John.

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"Time to start building the next generation of rockets!"


'fraid that won't happen until NASA is back the way it should be.

Stop sending billions to the enemies of the U.S.A. and redirect it to more worthy causes!!

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"Time to start building the next generation of rockets!"


'fraid that won't happen until NASA is back the way it should be.

Stop sending billions to the enemies of the U.S.A. and redirect it to more worthy causes!!

I suspect your right Tex!

John.

The End

Dark side to an end of era

Final Journey in pictures

For those who grew up through the "Space Race", will we see a replacement?

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Sirius,
Wow, they dragged the space shuttle through the streets of Los Angeles. Pretty incredible!

John.

Yep, incredible, but a bit more sensible than dragging.... :)

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For those who grew up through the "Space Race", will we see a replacement?

Falcon 9 placed in orbit the Dragon spacecraft, which is able to come back with materials and scientific samples. It should qualify for astronauts too. This from SpaceX of Elon Musk.
Orbital Sciences Corporation is next in list.American Venture Capital is ready to get paid from NASA. NASA has canceled all material ferry contracts with Roskosmos.
Human flights may come next.
Tullio

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I know Tullio, I subscribe to Spacex. I don't think it's going to be anytime soon.

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I've read that the secondary payload of Falcon 9, a communication satellite that was to be placed in high orbit, could not be reach its planned orbit because of the failure of one of the 9 Merlin engines and was de-orbited after 4 days of testing its electronics, which was perfect. It was insured and there will be a new Falcon flight. Space means also facing failures, this time without loss of human lives. Let us not forget the astronauts and cosmonauts who gave their lives.
Tullio

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Some more pics of a fantastic journey

Find this one stunning....

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Fair enough Vic, seems I wasn't quite right, but Obama signed the final papers to do so, and the decision could have been overturned, and I think it should have been. I still think it was a mistake by the USA.

and to conduct the first manned mission no later than 2014.

We will see.

I agree, as can't see that happening within the next 26 months. 2015/16 maybe.....

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Thought this 5 page article would add the the history of the era....

Behind the scenes of NASA's Mission Control Center

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Just returned from KSC. Haven't processed my photos yet but was allowed access to the VAB with Atlantis parked inside. We got within 10 feet of her.

Way cool.

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Fortymile Photo

Just returned from KSC. Haven't processed my photos yet but was allowed access to the VAB with Atlantis parked inside. We got within 10 feet of her.

Way cool.

you lucky devil :)

Hope you're going to post the photos when you can.

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As promised.

Atlantis in the VAB in High Bay #4. Resting prior to her move to the new permanent display site.

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Fortymile Photo

The tour guide made the point that she was still wearing the "dirt" from her last mission.

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Fortymile Photo

At a CERN meeting on space related physics research in Geneva Bill Gerstenmeier from NASA spoke of a manned mission to the L2 Lagrange point of the Earth-Moon system being planned. It will require a new heavy lifter.
Tullio

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