http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14024109
End of an era. When are we going to be boldly going again? I think we need to get a manned trip to the asteroid belt next. Fairly straightforward compared to Mars, but expanding the horizons.The 8 July ascent will be the 135th shuttle launch and the 33rd of Atlantis.
Tbh I don't think space exploration has been that exciting since the space race in the 60s culminating in the moon landings.
I'm not convinced we'll get to Mars or do anything else that exciting any time soon, just don't think there's the political will to spend the sort of money that could make that happen <add your own 'is NASA run by Wenger?' joke here>
I did see a Shuttle launch one time when I just happened to be in Florida when one went up. Was pretty bloody impressive.
Horrible, horrible, horrible. Space for the shareholders rather than the human race, fucking despicable. I suppose their poxy rockets will carry McDonalds and Nike logos? I hope every last one of the fucking things explodes.The US space agency (Nasa) is retiring its shuttles to make way for crew and cargo transportation services that will be operated by private companies.
Für eure Sicherheit
Is there anything you don't have a strong opinion about?Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
How about Fox's Viennese Chocolate - they're alright as far as chocolate biscuits go, right?
No not really, they are completely inferior to another well known brand which I'm not going to mention because I fucking HATE advertising! Hate it FFS!
I'm ambivalent towards Koreans, otherwise I don't allow confusion in my life.
Für eure Sicherheit
Funny - I'm kind of with you here. The Western World no longer does anything for the adventure; the prestige; the boundary pushing...its only to make money or for military aims. We live in very impoverished times, in this regard.
And we will soon realise that our standard of living began to fall years ago - when the cheap consumer goods from former 2nd and 3rd world economies start drying up. Unrestricted capitalism/commercialism rots the soul.
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
Missed a shuttle launch when I was there as it was delayed 2 weeks. This after I'd specifically timed the holiday so it would be in the middle of the fortnight. However, what I REALLY missed was all those years ago which was a Saturn V launch. It was far more spectacular than a shuttle launch (by all accounts) and there is the additional buzz of watching a vehicle launch 3 guys heading for the moon. If I had a time machine, it would have been the Apollo 17 Saturn V launch I'd go for as that one was at night. Must have been spectacular.
If the Chinese keep doing what they are at the moment, which is planning to land men on the moon to start to exploit it, I am hoping that there will be a US-Russia-Europe cooperation to match it and we can get this off the ground again. Sadly, unless there is a competition for economic and/or military domination, it just doesn't happen. So come on the Chinese and let's get the next race under way.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote