Space to Smithsonian: Shuttle Discovery's final flight
35 replies, posted
[img]http://i.cdn.turner.com/ireport/sm/prod/2012/04/11/WE00740340/2063691/t1largshuttleirptjpg-2063691_p9.jpg[/img]
[quote]On April 17, space shuttle Discovery will make a final flight to its new home: the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum just outside Washington, D.C. Join CNN, NASA and the Smithsonian in documenting the shuttle's last flight and its arrival at the air and space museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, where it will transition from explorer to educator.
The shuttle will ride on top of a modified 747 jet from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Dulles airport in Virginia, just outside Washington. If you're an aircraft or space aficionado in the southeastern U.S., your assignment is this: Head outside on the morning of April 17 and see if you can spot the shuttle. Shoot a photo or video and upload it above. Let's see if we can track the shuttle all the way from Florida to D.C.!
Here's what you need to know: The shuttle will take off from Kennedy Space Center at dawn on April 17 (approximately 7 a.m. ET), weather permitting. It will fly over the KSC visitor center, Patrick Air Force Base, and the Space Coast beaches before making its way up the coast. Between 10 and 11 a.m., NASA plans to have the shuttle fly over Washington, D.C., including several major landmarks, before it lands at Dulles airport for transfer to the museum. The 747 and shuttle will fly quite low throughout the entire journey, so they should be visible the whole time if weather conditions are good. And if you're in the D.C. area, the Smithsonian has some tips for you on the best places to spot the shuttle. Discovery will officially join the Smithsonian's collection at a public ceremony at the museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, on April 19, and we'd love to see your photos from that event, too.[/quote]
Source: [url]http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/774570?hpt=hp_bn8[/url]
The best photos from the shuttle's journey to the Smithsonian will be featured on CNN.com as well as NASA and the museum's social media feeds. Good luck spotting the shuttle!
Just a thought, couldn't they convert it for atmospheric use or would the costs outweigh the benefits?
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;35594297]Just a thought, couldn't they convert it for atmospheric use or would the costs outweigh the benefits?[/QUOTE]
It's an enormous rocket-assisted glider, so no.
Hey cool Dulles is the airport I use and live near, I could go see this.
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;35594297]Just a thought, couldn't they convert it for atmospheric use or would the costs outweigh the benefits?[/QUOTE]
it's not really the best shape to use as an actual aeroplane
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;35594297]Just a thought, couldn't they convert it for atmospheric use or would the costs outweigh the benefits?[/QUOTE]
It was never planned to do that. It was only designed to be able to be launched into space and then come back down safely to be reused. That was the entire point of the space shuttle program.
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;35594297]Just a thought, couldn't they convert it for atmospheric use or would the costs outweigh the benefits?[/QUOTE]
If it cant bomb brown people the government want to do nothing with the spacecraft
Man, end of the space shuttles. I wonder what'll come to replace em eventually.
[QUOTE=meppers;35594529]If it cant bomb brown people the government want to do nothing with the spacecraft[/QUOTE]
that debate is not necessary for a thread about space shuttles
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;35594297]Just a thought, couldn't they convert it for atmospheric use or would the costs outweigh the benefits?[/QUOTE]
it's a 737 with a flat belly and tiny wings, i doubt it would even work like a normal airplane without extensive modification.
[img]http://i.cdn.turner.com/ireport/sm/prod/2012/04/16/WE00742741/2068178/IMG0439jpg-2068178_p9.jpg[/img]
I wonder if the wings provide extra lift for the actual plane itself?
i'm skipping school to go watch it
my teachers were like "oh cool take pictures"
[QUOTE=Oicani Gonzales;35595827]yeah im sure those tiny wings will really help the plane lift the 14t on top of it[/QUOTE]
Wait what are you trying to say?
I won't be able to see it.
How unfortunate.
Aww, I was hoping they'd bring it up to a certain altitude, then release. Haven't they done that with shuttles before?
[QUOTE=Arachnidus;35596547]Aww, I was hoping they'd bring it up to a certain altitude, then release. Haven't they done that with shuttles before?[/QUOTE]
They did when they were first testing the feasability of the Shuttle back in the early 80s. It would disconnect from the 747 and land at Edwards AFB northeast of Los Angeles.
[IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Shuttle_mounting_point.JPG/719px-Shuttle_mounting_point.JPG[/IMG]
The shuttle carrier mounting bracket
[QUOTE=dbk21894;35595987]i'm skipping school to go watch it
my teachers were like "oh cool take pictures"[/QUOTE]
This is a good moment of history, if anything your whole class should go on a trip to watch it or something.
[QUOTE=Jetblack357;35597070]This is a good moment of history, if anything your whole class should go on a trip to watch it or something.[/QUOTE]
Yea really. We're only 15 minutes from the city. Apparently it is a huge pain in the ass to do field trips now though so we don't do them very often. Sucks major dick :(
That fucking sucks.
[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;35596936][IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Shuttle_mounting_point.JPG/719px-Shuttle_mounting_point.JPG[/IMG]
The shuttle carrier mounting bracket[/QUOTE]
Oh shit, Thanks, I almost attached it black side up :v:
[QUOTE=Arachnidus;35596547]Aww, I was hoping they'd bring it up to a certain altitude, then release. Haven't they done that with shuttles before?[/QUOTE]
[img]http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/space-shuttle-enterprise-testa.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Oicani Gonzales;35595827]yeah im sure those tiny wings will really help the plane lift the 14t on top of it[/QUOTE]
he asked if they actually provided lift, not if they actually helped the plane itself.
I'm still butt-mad that Houston didn't get one. We controlled and managed every mission the shuttle flew, and lost thousands of jobs when the program was cancelled. That thing is a major symbol of pride for the city and a ton of NASA guys are angry about it too. Smithsonian should have one though.
[QUOTE=OvB;35597730]I'm still butt-mad that Houston didn't get one. We controlled and managed every mission the shuttle flew, and lost thousands of jobs when the program was cancelled. That thing is a major symbol of pride for the city and a ton of NASA guys are angry about it too. Smithsonian should have one though.[/QUOTE]
We built and tested the fucking things and we don't get shit either. Hell they stole the apollo capsule from the park it was in.
Long story short fuck the smithsonian.
[QUOTE=OvB;35597730]I'm still butt-mad that Houston didn't get one. We controlled and managed every mission the shuttle flew, and lost thousands of jobs when the program was cancelled. That thing is a major symbol of pride for the city and a ton of NASA guys are angry about it too. Smithsonian should have one though.[/QUOTE]
Houston definitely should have gotten the one that went to California. IIRC, they didn't even have a place to put it when they got it.
[QUOTE=Ridge;35598639]Houston definitely should have gotten the one that went to California. IIRC, they didn't even have a place to put it when they got it.[/QUOTE]
They stuck it in LA because that's obviously the only important place in this state.
Gah I should probably step away from this, getting pisssed.
[QUOTE=Jetblack357;35595180]Man, end of the space shuttles. I wonder what'll come to replace em eventually.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/VASIMR[/url]
It's going to be tested on the ISS next year to move it further out in orbit to compensate for drag.
I saw it this morning. It was SOO FUCKING COOL!!!
GO SCIENCE!
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;35608005][url]http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/VASIMR[/url]
It's going to be tested on the ISS next year to move it further out in orbit to compensate for drag.[/QUOTE]
Plasma engines, fuck yeah!
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