zeitgeist57 Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/space/02/08/nasa.shuttle.endeavor/index.html?hpt=T1 Watching a live shuttle mission, especially a "night launch", will go on my very short list of things I regret not doing in this life. I hope that Obummer comes to his senses and reinstates some sort of manned space program before his term is up, or a future president gets us back up in space. In 2006, another couple joined my wife and I as we drove up from Naples to Cape Canaveral to watch a shuttle launch. It was the summertime, and afternoon storms delayed the launch. We had dinner and debated whether to stay overnight and hope for it to launch the next day. We decided to go back to Naples...which ended up being the right decision as it was delayed the next day also. We moved back to Ohio before I had a chance to make it back up for a launch. Now, there are only 4 shuttle missions left before retiring the fleet. Anyone for a roadtrip to catch one more launch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 I watched a night launch while fishing in Melbourne, Florida a few years ago. The intercoastal fishing was so good all night we decided to just stay up until the launch at 3 or 4am I believe it was. It was especially cool since we were there during the time when the whitewater was bio-luminescent due to an algae bloom or something those lines... Either way it was awesome . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putty Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 I was in Orlando when one broke back into the Atmosphere. **Sonic BOOM**. It was cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benner Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Got the pleasure of watching the 4th of July launch in 2006 from North side of Cocoa Beach. We were about 5 to 10 miles away. Pretty cool site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted February 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Got the pleasure of watching the 4th of July launch in 2006 from North side of Cocoa Beach. We were about 5 to 10 miles away. Pretty cool site. That's the one I was at! STS-121...small world. After the delay on July 3rd, I went golfing on July 4th...and saw the shuttle take off from the 18th hole. Florida is so flat you still got a great view of the ascension even though we were a couple hundred miles away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benner Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 That's the one I was at! STS-121...small world. After the delay on July 3rd, I went golfing on July 4th...and saw the shuttle take off from the 18th hole. Florida is so flat you still got a great view of the ascension even though we were a couple hundred miles away... With out a doubt. My dad and I were working under contract in Orlando at the time and decided to hit up the beach and watch the shuttle launch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheezy Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html I'm going to be around Daytona Beach on March 1. Might as well make the drive to see a satellite being launched. Probably not as cool as a shuttle but should still be neat to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 I hope that Obummer comes to his senses and reinstates some sort of manned space program before his term is up, or a future president gets us back up in space. Have you not heard of the Constellation program? They are retiring the shuttles because, as awesome as they are, they AREN"T the best way to get to space and back. Check out this link... http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/index.html Look into the Orion spacecraft (No, that's not a joke, and it's not the one from "Deep Impact" either, although they DI think about really building that back in the day), and the Ares launcher. Some serious horsepower, right there. Make no mistake about it, man has two choices...Get off this planet one way or the other, through exploration or extinction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted February 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 I'm too lazy to search, but I thought Odrama cut the Constellation program? I could be wrong... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodRed Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 I always have wanted to go see a Shuttle launch before they retire. I know time is getting short, really really short. And the Constellation program is not cut yet. But if Obama's budget gets approved, you might as well kiss NASA good bye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ansonivan Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 The shrinking space budget is a sad thing, apparently the airforce currently spends more money in space than NASA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 It's not the one from "Deep Impact" either, although they DI think about really building that back in the day So, I got to remembering this idea, and forgot how awesome it was. Check it out... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orion_(nuclear_propulsion) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ansonivan Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Holy shit, imagine a failed launch with one of those things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Eff that, even a successful launch would be off the chain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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