It's over!

[liberal N proud]

Americas long reign in space

It was a fun ride to watch.




The final touch down

[johnnie]

1. It will continue n/t

[FlaGranny]

2. I went outside and watched it

go across the sky. I feel sad that it is over. Before Orion gets launched, if it ever does, the US is taking a back seat to Europe and Russia in the space business.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. I don't think you can say Europe is ahead of the US in space now

Europe doesn't do manned flights, and never has done. If you think that it's all about people in space, then Russia is the leader; with China a very small capability.

[FlaGranny]

12. Actually

I meant that other countries will be progressing, while we fall behind - not that they are now. They way things are going in this country, Orion might never get off the ground. The US seens to be losing the scientific advantage in all fields.

[exboyfil]

3. We now have a $100B asset paid for

by the current and future toil of Americans which we cannot reach without hitching a ride from the Russians. Does any think The Gods Must be Crazy (or at least our government is).

[malaise]

4. The shuttle is over but space travel

will continue

sp

[boston bean]

6. the "shittle" ?? nt

[joshcryer]

8. Killed two crews.

Yes.

[Bake]

15. I grieve for them. But they knew and accepted the risk willingly.

They were sitting on top of a great big freakin' bomb and they still said, "Light it."

They thought the risk was worth it. They were, are, and evermore shall be heroes in the truest sense of the word.

Light the candle.

Bake

[malaise]

9. genuine typo

:D

Coffee time

sp

[Syrinx]

5. I thought you meant the DoS attack!

[July16th-20th]

10. We.Will.Rue.This.Day!

And soon.

[kayakjohnny]

11. And it went out with a BANG!!!!!

That sonic boom was the absolute LOUDEST I've heard in all these years.

It shook my house and woke me out of a sound sleep!!!

What a way to end it all.

[jimlup]

13. Hard to believe

And bittersweet...

[orwell]

14. Good riddance...

...a decades old design that should be retired.

There is far more bang for the buck in unmanned space missions.

NASA needed to get rid of the albatross that is the space shuttle.

[KittyWampus]

16. We will continue with more sophisticated technology unburdened by human weight.