Space Shuttle's Retirement Nears

[straitman]

Space Shuttle Retirement.

The STS has lofted 3 million pounds of cargo into orbit on 120+ missions since 1981. But after two catastrophic accidents, the three remaining orbiters will retire in 2010.

 

[samh004]

Personally, I think it's the wrong way to be going for space travel, but the advancements they need for the right direction haven't been made yet. I'm talking about potentially flying into space, but I don't reckon rockets are the way to go, they work, but aren't the best.

Also, 3 million pounds sounds like a lot, but it's only 1500 tons

 

[Mal]

Yeah, I also think it's a mistake, but the space shuttles cost an absolute fortune to prepare/maintain/repair every time they go into space.

My regret is that I'm unlikely to see one take off. Now that would have been an experience, and with the frequent changing of launch dates due to various delays, it is pretty hard to schedule a trip to see one.

 

[straitman]

Atlantis Set For Nov. 16 Launch To ISS

Six NASA astronauts will use the next-to-last mission of the space shuttle Atlantis to begin preparing the International Space Station for the day when there will be no shuttles to keep the station supplied.

Liftoff of Atlantis on the third utilization and logistics flight (STS-129/ULF-3) is set for as early as 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16, kicking off an 11-day mission. The flight will see three spacewalks to prepare a place for the final U.S. pressurized station module, and bring ISS Expedition 20 and 21 flight engineer Nicole Stott home, in the last station-crew rotation on a shuttle. But the main event will be elaborate robotics work to attach outsize spare parts to the station truss.

Atlantis Set For Nov. 16 Launch To ISS