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End of an era

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:47 am
by _Quasimodo
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/12/16/space-shuttle-discovery-final-power-down/

I really don't expect anyone to respond to this. I guess it's kind of a personal thing.

Hundreds of years from now people will still be learning and talking about this time in human history.

I was privileged to work on two of the Shuttles (Orbiters) Atlantis and Columbia. It's hard to describe how it feels to stand inside a real space ship. Inside something that was the ultimate in human accomplishment. The most complex and sophisticated machine that mankind has ever built.

I understand the reasons why we have turned away from them. Still, it's a very sad "historic" day for me.

Re: End of an era

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:51 am
by _Morley
Your shuttle pictures were some of best things posted here, Quasi.

Re: End of an era

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:59 am
by _Morley
Quasimodo wrote:Hundreds of years from now people will still be learning and talking about this time in human history.

Agreed. I think we've underestimated the importance of our adventure.

Re: End of an era

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:00 am
by _Quasimodo
Morley wrote:Your shuttle pictures were some of best things posted here, Quasi.


Thanks so much, Morley. I have hundreds more, but I'm unsure if I can post them without getting in trouble with NASA. The ones I posted were also posted on the NASA web site for public use.

Re: End of an era

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:10 am
by _Quasimodo
Morley wrote:
Quasimodo wrote:Hundreds of years from now people will still be learning and talking about this time in human history.

Agreed. I think we've underestimated the importance of our adventure.


I think the adventure will still go on. Some manned flights to the Moon. I have doubts about manned flights to Mars anytime soon (in my lifetime). I think the future of space exploration will be robotics for the most part. It makes the most sense.

I think the Shuttle program will be seen as a unique and heroic era (we lost two crews in the program) in space exploration by future generations. Much like Christopher Columbus' journeys.

Thanks for responding!

Re: End of an era

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:13 am
by _Drifting
So has mankind managed, through the shuttle programme, to refute Joseph Smiths statement that there were men living on the moon?

Re: End of an era

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:21 pm
by _Blixa
Morley wrote:Your shuttle pictures were some of best things posted here, Quasi.


Totally agree! Thanks for sharing them!

Re: End of an era

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 5:29 pm
by _Quasimodo
Blixa wrote:
Morley wrote:Your shuttle pictures were some of best things posted here, Quasi.


Totally agree! Thanks for sharing them!


Thank you for the kind words!