End of Shuttle Era

[maradamx3]

Atlantis is home and safe. Mixed emotions, but mostly sad to see this program come to a close.
What will you remember about the shuttle program, aside from Challenger and Columbia?

Tommy

[Nathan]

I think most thought each mission was just routine. I know I fall into that catigory at times forgetting. But in fact every mission was a serious effort. The dangers the crews faced is unimaginable.

[Pogmusic]

Mine is that they were prematurely retired having used only 1/3 of their design life. No replacement in sight is an awful plan. Sort of like voting present.

[Chappie]

I remember the first launch even though I was just 10 years old. There was hours of coverage before the launch, it was great. When ever I could I watched the coverage of launches and landings. I never tired of those or watching the shuttle and ISS pass overhead in orbit.

Retiring these aircraft before their time and before a replacement is flying is just sad. When the commander made his statements after wheels stop this morning there was definite sadness in his voice.


Chappie

[K5DH]

The entire shuttle program has always fascinated me. Aside from the very concept of it all, I think the most memorable thing for me has been years and years of beautiful photographs showing just how incredible Earth and space really are. Seeing photos of places I've been on Earth that were shot from the shuttles (and the ISS) is really mind-blowing.

I agree with the others that the retirement of the shuttles with no replacement readily available is sad. Having grown up in the Space Age, it's hard to believe that the United States no longer has a manned space program of its own.

[RandolphB]

There are too many memories to pick just one. A few highlights include being at KSC for the first launch. Working at a company that had components onboard, and having the entire place come to a complete stop as we all crowded around small TV's to watch thelanding. The excitment as the craft was being designed and built. Seeing the 747 piggybacking the orbiter back to KSC....knowing the flights ever made my daily life easier and better. The sadness and frustration as we lost brave crews and the upbeat, "We can do it attitude" that NASA always has...ever after diasters.

While I accept that Shuttle is a program that had a planned end, I can not accept the morons in charge have gutted the budget and cancelled the follow-up programs. We will live to regret this stupidity. I remember the days when the greatest crew of forward thinkers, the Apollo staff, were broken apart and sent on their way. I never expected to see the same mistake made again.

Mostly, I remember the intense work, and hard training that made the entire team great at what they did.

Long Live Shuttle!!!

[Matt Gunsch]

I remember watching the Enterprise separation test flights, I was in high school when the first shuttle flew. I carried around a battery powered TV so I would not miss it. I was working when the Challenger blew up. I was building a model of the 747 transport and Columbia when I heard the Columbia had broken up on re entry, I put the model back in the box and have not touched it since, I can barely look at it without thinking about that day.

It is a sad day when the US has to buy a ride into space with the russians. Thanks to a short sighted sitting president who killed off the follow on program, and to those at NASA who could not think outside the box and were planning on reinventing the Apollo program instead of thinking ahead to what could replace the shuttle.

NASA should have been looking into building larger rockets in low earth orbit using the shuttle, it is easier to launch to Mars or the Moon from earth orbit than from the surface.

[The Inspector]

Hard realization hit me the other day that right @ half my life has passed during the shuttles era, I sat on the couch as a much younger man with my two small kids and we watched the first glide flight landing @ Edwards on a 19" TV in a town I no longer live in , in a house I no longer own, and married to a woman I no longer live with, and my oldest will turn 40 this September-TEMPUS FUGIT!!!!

Thanks for the thrills, revelations, disappointments, and yes even for the learning that came from the tragedies.

It's just too bad we've gone 'Yeah, we can do that! No sweat' to 'Geez! I'm not sure we can afford the cost,risk,manpower,time'

[oscardeuce]

Yes we can?

The end of the shuttle or the US manned space flight era? One more thing in which we are no longer leading the world.

Sad!

[mustangdriver]

I fall in neither side on politics, however I will say I wish there was a way that the president would have to explain it to Roger, Ed, and Gus.

[oscardeuce]

I fall in neither side on politics, however I will say I wish there was a way that the president would have to explain it to Roger, Ed, and Gus.

I'd add a few names to that list..... Challenger, Columbia.... all the men and women with the "Right Stuff"

My daughter wants to be an astronaut. I wish the President would explain to her why her dreams can't come true.

[Garth]

I remember watching the Enterprise ALTs as well. Also getting to stay home from school - more than once - to see Columbia's first launch.

The one thing that I distinctly remember from the program, other than Challenger and Columbia, is the time that, other high-tech means having failed, NASA put three astronauts out into the cargo bay of one of the shuttles ... to capture a wayward satellite by hand.

[Clifford Bossie]

I saw the Enterprise atop the 747 at Biggs AAF in March, 1979 (when I was actually young!) and have seen other shuttles transit at various times. I guess that is a site I will never see again.

[steve dickey]

Clifford, did you go see Columbia when it landed at White Sands 1982?, I was a pre-pube teen then and dad drove us 2 1/2 hrs to go see it. Thought that was the coolest thing

[Matt Gunsch]

The 747 Shuttle transporter and Shuttle were supposed to land at Luke AFB once, but the base commander vetoed it because the groups based there did not do as well as he thought they should have done on a inspection. So, a short sighted ego w stars on his shoulders, deprived the entire Phoenix area of the only chance to see the shuttle.