A sad day
Government Teat-sucker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,748
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
AMC Pacer was the (arguably) ugliest car ever, however, when it is your only means of transportation, it definitely beats walking. The shuttle is gone now and there is nothing on the horizon to take its place. Granted, we don't 'need' to get into space (yet), but at least we had the means to get there. Now that 'means' is retired.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 20,589
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Hitchhiking on Russian spacecraft......
(which is what makes it a sad day)
The shuttle was supposed to be a 'bridge'.......They should have been developing another vehicle, ready-to-go by the time the shuttle retired.
(Oops)
(which is what makes it a sad day)
The shuttle was supposed to be a 'bridge'.......They should have been developing another vehicle, ready-to-go by the time the shuttle retired.
(Oops)
Thread Starter
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
Spot on//////////
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 23,849
Likes: 20
From: McKenzie River
Spacecraft that take off like a conventional aircraft, climb to incredible altitude on conventional jet engines, then light off a "scram-jet" engine that does not require being in atmosphere to operate will then take the craft orbital.
Much safer than the gigantic solid fuel boosters of the shuttle and more economical, the USAF has had successful test vehicles for sometime.
Still very sad to see the shuttle fleet go, and our only ride be the Russian Soyuz.
On the up side, the Soyuz is a proven and reliable/economical system to get us through until the next generation US craft is operational.
Much safer than the gigantic solid fuel boosters of the shuttle and more economical, the USAF has had successful test vehicles for sometime.
Still very sad to see the shuttle fleet go, and our only ride be the Russian Soyuz.
On the up side, the Soyuz is a proven and reliable/economical system to get us through until the next generation US craft is operational.
Thread Starter
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
........and they are raising the price as you read this
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 20,589
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Spacecraft that take off like a conventional aircraft, climb to incredible altitude on conventional jet engines, then light off a "scram-jet" engine that does not require being in atmosphere to operate will then take the craft orbital.
Much safer than the gigantic solid fuel boosters of the shuttle and more economical, the USAF has had successful test vehicles for sometime.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 23,849
Likes: 20
From: McKenzie River
I believe the USAF has right now, fighter sized drones that launch from the back of a modified 747 at high altitude as test vehicles. Upon safe separation from the mother craft, they ignite the scram-jet which then takes it orbital in a incredibly fast time. The testing is all in the scram-jet engine, the conventional jet tech. to take it high enough is old hat..........It's NASA's job to build a large vehicle.
I am certain it is also a strategic military bonanza for the USAF to test fighter sized vehicles for the destruction of some hostile powers satellite network.
I am certain it is also a strategic military bonanza for the USAF to test fighter sized vehicles for the destruction of some hostile powers satellite network.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
That's about the way it goes. Technology as a whole is in a decline, modern conveniences and distractions are eroding the drive to achieve, and nobody seems to have a real interest in anything anymore.
When you tell a generation to look out for themselves, and that they are free to do whatever they want, then they pass that on to their kids and you have a society dying from apathy. The space program is just another outward example of this.
When you tell a generation to look out for themselves, and that they are free to do whatever they want, then they pass that on to their kids and you have a society dying from apathy. The space program is just another outward example of this.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Monmouth County, NJ
As sad as I am to see Putin taking over space for a few years, I'm happy as hell not to be paying for a very wasteful space program for the time being. And I have little doubt that fairly soon, a commercial player will come up with cheaper, safer way to launch stuff. I think their system may take cues from Russian engineering- don't be pushing the frontiers of your technological capabilities when your toolbox is on the ground 1,000 miles away.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
And as of this morning, it's done. Listening to the last touchdown and the talk afterward this morning while driving in to work, it finally dawned on me how many people out there have never known what it was like to NOT have the space shuttle. If you're younger than 30, it's been around longer than you have.
Perhaps the new frontier, the space program, and the shuttle don't hold the same place in the imagination when they're older than you are.
Regardless, a sad day indeed.
Perhaps the new frontier, the space program, and the shuttle don't hold the same place in the imagination when they're older than you are.
Regardless, a sad day indeed.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,537
Likes: 27
From: Long Beach, Ms.