Final launch of Atlantis at 2:20pm ET

[luckydog]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100514/ap_on_sc/us_space_shuttle

[Snuffy]

I'll be steppin out the office door and watching it take off, and hope it comes over J'Ville.

Will keep ya posted. :)

[Bjoern]

Of all the Shuttles I liked Atlantis the best, can't say why though. Endeavour is a close second.



Happy final liftoff, At!

*Sigh*

[tigisfat]

Of all the Shuttles I liked Atlantis the best, can't say why though. Endeavour is a close second.



Happy final liftoff, At!

*Sigh*

Because it had a AWESOME name, that's why. The friggin' ATLANTIS. That just sounds like some awesome explorer type stuff.

[papab]

Few clouds in the way but still saw the contrail from Tampa...

When I lived in Oralndo in the 80's we got passes and stayed up all night to watch Sally Ride go into orbit....

Back in the late 60's I was able to witness a Saturn-5 liftoff from 5 miles away..

No way top describe the thunderous roar that hit us several seconds after liftoff

Rick

[tigisfat]

I'm going to really regret having never seen a shuttle launch....

[Snuffy]

I'm going to really regret having never seen a shuttle launch....

Well I didn't get to see this one either ... :(

It was a little overcast here in J'Ville and I couldn't see a contrail or anything so it must have went a differnt direction other than north ...

*sigh*

[Bjoern]

Because it had a AWESOME name, that's why. The friggin' ATLANTIS. That just sounds like some awesome explorer type stuff.

Must be something along those lines. Hence "Endeavour" as number two. :d

[HouseHobbit]

I am very disappointed that we will have to beg borrow or steal a launch vehicle Now..
I think NASA and the goverment, have failed Us..

I grew up when America, was working toward the moon and behond..
Now we shall be without any working rockets for manned space exploration..
That is a sad thing to me..

[Bjoern]

It's just a shift from all government space faring to industrial space faring. If you can keep the safety of the rockets and spacecraft in check with something like the FAA, I don't see much trouble with commercialised space exploration.

[cheezyflier]

It's just a shift from all government space faring to industrial space faring. If you can keep the safety of the rockets and spacecraft in check with something like the FAA, I don't see much trouble with commercialised space exploration.

i do. i see a big problem. space exploration is/was a huge source of technology trickle down. with those innovations being in entirely private hands, the corporate greed will see to it that we do not enjoy the benefits in the same way that we used to.

[Bone]

I'd like to see the launch from the ground, but the altitude view wasn't bad.


http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj299/theBone11/FlyPics/NassuaBahamasShuttlelaunch060.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj299/theBone11/FlyPics/NassuaBahamasShuttlelaunch067.jpg


http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj299/theBone11/FlyPics/NassuaBahamasShuttlelaunch073.jpg

[Ken Stallings]

Those are very unique photos, Bone!

Well done!

Curious, do you always keep a camera handy or did you have this one because you knew there was a chance to get those shots?

Ken

[Bone]

Those are very unique photos, Bone!

Well done!

Curious, do you always keep a camera handy or did you have this one because you knew there was a chance to get those shots?

Ken

Thanks, Ken. I keep a camera in my flight bag.

[Bjoern]

i do. i see a big problem. space exploration is/was a huge source of technology trickle down. with those innovations being in entirely private hands, the corporate greed will see to it that we do not enjoy the benefits in the same way that we used to.

I don't think so. With a bit of competitive thinking, the implementation of new technologies might happen a bit quicker than before.

[Wing_Z]

Here you go...in 1080p HD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jma7ZjZbwsY&feature=player_embedded

[tigisfat]

Thanks, Ken. I keep a camera in my flight bag.

:icon_lol:I used to, but I had to reduce after I kept getting made fun of for having the apparent world's largest flight bag. Hey, every pilot needs their 2D flashlight, plus the small one they will actually use, spare contacts and glasses, a set of foggles, a few books for reading, bottles of water, electronic E-6B, E-6B, spare sunglasses, FAR/AIM, kneeboard, pens, pencils, jillions of charts and plates, POH for reference, backup GPS, backup radio, eye drops, beef jerky, chewing tobacco (in case the urges for a cigarette return) wallet, sharp pocket knife with glass breaker, car keys, house keys, spare phone chargers, phone charger for the plane, spare headset.....etc. I downsized to get my cool points back.

You get the idea.

[Bone]

:icon_lol:I used to, but I had to reduce after I kept getting made fun of for having the apparent world's largest flight bag. Hey, every pilot need their 2D flashlight, plus the small one they will actually use, spare contacts and glasses, a set of foggles, a few books for reading, bottles of water, electronic E-6B, E-6B, spare sunglasses, FAR/AIM, kneeboard, pens, pencils, jillions of charts and plates, POH for reference, backup GPS, backup radio, eye drops, beef jerky, chewing tobacco (in case the urges for a cigarette return) wallet, sharp pocket knife with glass breaker, car keys, house keys, spare phone chargers, phone charger for the plane, spare headset.....etc. I downsized to get my cool points back.

You get the idea.

Wow. That's alot of stuff for a flight bag. When you start working for an airline, you'll have the roller-bag suitcase to carry all of that extraneous stuff, as well as something to strap the flight case onto as you strut down the concourse.