SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS JUST LIFTED OFF ON FINAL MISSION AFTER 30YRS!!!

["prima"Donna]

I just got done watching Atlantis lift-off successfully on its final mission after 30 yrs orbiting in space...in case you don't know, the current space shuttles will all 'retire' this year...

My older son Mark has been fascinated with the Space Shuttle Program since he was a little boy...he had always wanted to be a pilot, until migraines 'grounded his dreams'... :(

Well, my son Mark flew down to Florida last night after work to get a chance to witness history being made and getting to see the launch 'LIVE' at the Kennedy Space Center!!!...

I haven't spoken to him yet, but he must be 'thrilled to death' at such an awesome and amazing opportunity!!!...

In case you are all wondering why the whole family isn't there with him....my younger son Kevin is graduating from college this Sunday morning, and you probably all know how many times the shuttle launches have been delayed over and over again, with weather or equipment complications...

We simply couldn't take the chance that it wouldn't go off as scheduled and we wouldn't make it back in time for Kevin's 'milestone'...

Thankfully, it DID take off on time, so Mark will fly home to NY tomorrow in time for the graduation ceremony Sunday morning...'whew'....

Ok, 'now back to your regularly scheduled Camaro5 viewing and posting'.....
(and for some of you I will just say this ---- "I WIN!" ...LOL...you know who you are...hehehehehe )

[Mr Smith]

Awesome..I wanna see the last lift off...I got to see the third landing at Edwards..Then the circle would be complete.

[hot_rod]

Prima - your family has a very full weekend, very neat!

Got to see a launch in the late 90's - something I will never forget, nothing can describe it.

["prima"Donna]

Originally Posted by hot_rod

Prima - your family has a very full weekend, very neat!

Got to see a launch in the late 90's - something I will never forget, nothing can describe it.

Thanks, I really, really wanted to go, but as my Dad always said, "Everything in life is timing"...

Can't wait to see my son's pics and videos...he bought a brand new camera the other night just for this...it has a 14X magnification and also takes video, so it should be good...

[Michael_Js]

Very cool! Live it through his trip!
Post some videos!

[dmiller66]

I've seen it in person....words, pictures, TV ...just don't do it justice. We were 17 miles away and you could feel the rumble!

[guiLT]

I wonder when the space program will fire up again...

[AZCamaroFan]

Last launch for Atlantis. 1985-2010. How many flights left? one or two? I would sooooo love to see a Shuttle launch. It's on the other end of the country from me, but i wish i could see that in person.

["prima"Donna]

While I was waiting for Atlantis to blast off, one of the news commentators was asking a former astronaut how long it would take to build the next (smaller sized) fleet of space shuttles and he said we should have already started building them 5 yrs ago...
After this year when all our shuttles are retired, the only way for us to get to the space station is to 'rent a seat' on a Russian flight..................

[scritchy]

Originally Posted by dmiller66

I've seen it in person....words, pictures, TV ...just don't do it justice. We were 17 miles away and you could feel the rumble!

A shuttle launch is one of the most powerful, awe-inspiring sights you will ever witness. It is beyond incredible.

["prima"Donna]

Originally Posted by scritchy

A shuttle launch is one of the most powerful, awe-inspiring sights you will ever witness. It is beyond incredible.

I cannot even imagine how exciting it must be...I just about cry whenever they launch or land, it is such an emotional experience to witness on tv...I cannot even imagine the majesty of seeing it in person.............

["prima"Donna]

Here are the pictures and video that my son took of the Atlantis launch 'LIVE' 5/14/10.....ENJOY!!!...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marksow...7624066321296/

[8cd03gro]

Awesome. It's sad how small the budget is for our space program. People think it's more important to take care of the damn lady bugs than it is to get to mars and beyond. Fools.

[AZCamaroFan]

Yes. The budget really hasn't increased since the early 90s, falling way behind inflation.

[speedster]

Originally Posted by "prima"Donna

I just got done watching Atlantis lift-off successfully on its final mission after 30 yrs orbiting in space...in case you don't know, the current space shuttles will all 'retire' this year...

My older son Mark has been fascinated with the Space Shuttle Program since he was a little boy...he had always wanted to be a pilot, until migraines 'grounded his dreams'... :(

Well, my son Mark flew down to Florida last night after work to get a chance to witness history being made and getting to see the launch 'LIVE' at the Kennedy Space Center!!!...

I haven't spoken to him yet, but he must be 'thrilled to death' at such an awesome and amazing opportunity!!!...

In case you are all wondering why the whole family isn't there with him....my younger son Kevin is graduating from college this Sunday morning, and you probably all know how many times the shuttle launches have been delayed over and over again, with weather or equipment complications...

We simply couldn't take the chance that it wouldn't go off as scheduled and we wouldn't make it back in time for Kevin's 'milestone'...

Thankfully, it DID take off on time, so Mark will fly home to NY tomorrow in time for the graduation ceremony Sunday morning...'whew'....

Ok, 'now back to your regularly scheduled Camaro5 viewing and posting'.....
(and for some of you I will just say this ---- "I WIN!" ...LOL...you know who you are...hehehehehe )

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...

[5thGenOwner]

Originally Posted by guiLT

I wonder when the space program will fire up again...

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/

[speedster]

Originally Posted by 5thGenOwner

As with everything, it could be done much more efficient than any government. Just ask Richard Branson...

http://www.virgingalactic.com/

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.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by guiLT

I wonder when the space program will fire up again...

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

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

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

And there is some exciting new tech coming out to make interplanetary travel a bit more practical: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...=plasma+rocket Just need to figure out a cheaper way to get IN to space now... the most interesting idea I've seen so far is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_loop

[AlSuwaidi]

Nice!

[2001ragtop]

Originally Posted by guiLT

I wonder when the space program will fire up again...

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.

["prima"Donna]

Originally Posted by speedster

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...

thanks Speedster....I wasn't really sure how many people actually cared about the space shuttle program anymore....

I was 'blown away' by seeing it LIVE on tv and even more 'blown away' by Mark's video and pictures...

[billw501]

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.

["prima"Donna]

Originally Posted by billw501

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.

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...