Shuttle safely landed

[El_Machinae]

Well, it hasn't gotten much press, but the Shuttle safely landed. Mr. Griffin is a 'higher up' in NASA, and by examining his career, one can tell that he believes (actually believes) that humans should go to space.

"I think I also said, not terribly long ago, that if you think about it ... it took Western Europeans, and then North Americans, 1,000 years from being able to put Viking ships out into the open ocean to get to the point where nowadays we can load up cargo in an oil tanker and sail it halfway around the world, and almost every single time we do that, it gets there. But it took us 1,000 years to learn how to do that.

He's using a trick that's often done; comparing old progress with new research to make the new research look much better. But we all know that we live in world where progress is accelerating.

But the commander of the Discovery, Lindsey, was also quite impressive in his sentiments. Of course, this was a man who knowingly strapped himself to a bomb that had a greater than 1% of blowing him into smithereens. Not a surprise he's a believer.

So I think it's a great investment in our future. If a company spends no money in research and development, then their product stands still and eventually that company dies. We all know that, and they invest a certain amount of their earnings in future technologies.

"I think the space program is the same thing. What we're doing right now is a little too expensive for a corporation to take on. And so I think it's a useful role for government in this case, to do that and go after those hard tasks. And it's also an inspiration to people.

 

[IglooDame]

Indeed, I'm quite relieved that Discovery's mission was successfully completed and that it landed in one piece. Had it not, mankind's advancement into space would have been set back a decade, maybe two.

 

[Kozmos]

Not that much only your Space Shuttles would probably be retired before 2010 and work on the other spacecraft would begin much sooner, which is a good thing.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

These days a shuttle taking off and landing safely is news.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

I remember The Simpsons episode where they try to change the channel before the shuttle lift-off.

Things havn't changed.

 

[Urederra]

And did the astronauts kiss the soil of the airport after landing, just like the former Pope used to do?

I always found funny that american space travelers are called astronauts, russians are called cosmonauts and chinese (only one so far, AFAIK, is was called other way I cannot remember right now.

 

[El_Machinae]

Taikonauts, I believe. Though a simple websearch could have confirmed this.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Yes, taikonauts. And good for the Chinese, by the way; I do realize the country has bigger problems but at the same time I hope they make it to the moon.

I was glad to see the shuttle make it safely back. It did make the news. Of course, from what I can see the shuttle has been obsolete for a while and really needs replacement.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

There are only three Shuttles left now, and one is grounded.

Imagine if there were two passenger jets in the whole world.

 

[Smellincoffee]

Is the Enterprise still in one piece? She was never meant for space (just atmospheric tests), but I read that she had been stripped for parts.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Atlantis and Discovery are online. Endeavor is the one you're thinking of - she's grounded, but on further Googling it seems to be only for routine maintenance. So we have three after all.

 

[MrCynical]

Is the Enterprise still in one piece? She was never meant for space (just atmospheric tests), but I read that she had been stripped for parts.

The Enterprise was partially stripped of parts in late 1985 before becoming a museum piece, but at least at that time it would have been theoretically possible to restore the shuttle and upgrade it for full space-worthiness. It was seriously considered after the loss of Challenger, but in the end it was to decided to construct Endeavour from a mixture of new components, and leftovers from the construction of the other shuttles. Whether it would still be possible to restore and upgrade Enterprise I'm not certain, but it seems doubtful. I suspect it will have had little to no maintenance over the last 20 years, and further parts have been stripped for repairs to the other shuttles, and for tests. For instance after the loss of Columbia, sections of its heat shield were removed to test the effects of firing chunks of insulation foam at them at high velocity. I would have thought it would be cheaper, and safer to build a new shuttle from scratch.

 

[Masquerouge]

And did the astronauts kiss the soil of the airport after landing, just like the former Pope used to do?

I always found funny that american space travelers are called astronauts, russians are called cosmonauts and chinese (only one so far, AFAIK, is was called other way I cannot remember right now.

And you have the spationauts too!

 

[Gelion]

Well this is good news for the ISS space program.... now that US shuttles are back online I hope some serious construction will continue...

My only wish is that our government re-installs the Buran project...

 

[Souron]

I always found funny that american space travelers are called astronauts, russians are called cosmonauts and chinese (only one so far, AFAIK, is was called other way I cannot remember right now.

I don't know about the chinese, but the common russian word for outer space is "cosmos" (космо&#1089 so it is natural to call them "cosmonavt" (космонав&#1090 or anglified cosmonaut.

In English we use the word "space" for outer space. Spacenaunt just does not sound right so we revert to greak "astro" meaning star.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

During Germany's early research of space flight during WWII, they were called Astronazis.

 

[Masquerouge]

During Germany's early research of space flight during WWII, they were called Astronazis.

Excellent!

 

[moggydave]

I like Jerem Clarkson's logic from just after the Columbia tragedy. He made a good point that the Shutte is now 20 years old and that some of the technology in this laptop I'm using now is more advanced than some things on the shuttle. That being said he shuttle has run nearly faultlessly for over 20 years now, and anything that does that can't have much wrong with it. He also points out tt America has a H+S obsession which is creeping into Britain where noone is allowed to die of anything except very old age, and only after a full public enquiry.

We must accept that in all areas of life, but especially Space Travel, accidents happen. They are tragic when they do, and yes sometimes their is an answer, but I doubt it in a machine thats had only two accidents in over 20 years of service and countless missions.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

120 missions, or thereabouts. That means each shuttle that goes up has a 2% chance of not coming down.

 

[Gelion]

I like Jerem Clarkson's logic from just after the Columbia tragedy. He made a good point that the Shutte is now 20 years old and that some of the technology in this laptop I'm using now is more advanced than some things on the shuttle. That being said he shuttle has run nearly faultlessly for over 20 years now, and anything that does that can't have much wrong with it.

Soyz rockets are twice as old (if not more).... work like a clock. So IMHO its not a good argument.