05-16-2010, 07:57 PM | #15 | |
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Congrats Donna..That is so cool that your son Mark got to see the shuttle launch in person and you get to enjoy the excitement through him. I live 22 miles straightline from the pad. We have been fortunate enough to see many shuttle launches. I know quite a few people that work at the Cape. The Atlantis launch was picture perfect. We all went outside at the office and watched it over the Intracoastal. The sheer power is awe inspiring. It normally takes a couple of minutes for the sound to get here, but when it does, it rocks the buildings for a couple of minutes. There are only 2 launches left, so congrats again. Your son witnessed history... |
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05-16-2010, 08:16 PM | #16 |
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Good question. I'm hoping it goes into the private sector for good!
If you recall it was the competition with the Soviet Union which gave us the drive to land on the moon... all the way through to the current Space Shuttle program, which is going ka-put! Right now, governments are just trying to stay afloat... let alone compete in a multi-billion dollar space race. That said, the private sector could flurish here. There is money out there to be had... who wouldn't spend 1 million bucks (if you had it) to go to outerspace? Didn't a Backstreet Boy try to go, via the Russians? As with everything, it could be done much more efficient than any government. Just ask Richard Branson... http://www.virgingalactic.com/
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05-17-2010, 08:15 AM | #17 | |
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Funny you mention Richard. Last fall, he wanted to drive the SL70, so of course he did. He is a really cool guy... I'd like to see someone like him do more space stuff, but it is a very large, very high risk investment. Maybe a privatized consortium to lower the barrier to entry. |
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05-17-2010, 10:24 AM | #18 | ||
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which space program? just because the shuttle is being retired doesnt mean our space program is going on hold. we still shoot rockets loaded with satellites and equipment into space every month. The Orion manned space program is originally set to kick off in 2015. much too late for my personal taste, but thats how the american people want it. as said before, it took the cold war to get our act into gear and go from the first manned space flight to landing on the moon in around a decade. we havent been back since. but until the masses feel that there are more important things in space rather than here on the ground, NASA will always be stuck behind the curve.
space privatization is looking more and more viable every day. its a lot cheaper for a slew of private companies to build and launch satellites for communication/etc than it is for NASA to. also, it would free NASA up to focusing on the long term space missions like going back to the moon and then mars and further out
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05-17-2010, 11:59 AM | #19 | |
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05-17-2010, 12:19 PM | #20 |
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Nice!
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05-18-2010, 12:26 PM | #21 |
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Ha
don't worry. there is still a space program even with no space shuttle flights.
When you refer to the space shuttle, this is like referring to the first model T automobile from 1908. Very few people realize that. |
05-19-2010, 03:45 PM | #22 | |
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I was 'blown away' by seeing it LIVE on tv and even more 'blown away' by Mark's video and pictures...
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05-19-2010, 04:20 PM | #23 |
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Great video. I am planning on going in September if at all possible. Would love to have the view he had. Any information on where he was at would be appreciated.
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05-19-2010, 04:22 PM | #24 |
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I'll try to get that info for you...PM me your email address so I can send you the link...he went as part of a tour group...I think there was a waiting list for the last launches...
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