Space Shuttle Discovery(the cockpit)

[John Stiles]

How'd ya like to fly one of these? Its a panoramic view of all the instruments, takes about 2 minutes http://360vr.com/2011/06/22-discovery-flight-deck-opf_6236/index.html

[Paul Smith]

I was at the 1977 Nats in California when they dropped the space shuttle Enterprize off the 747 for the first time.  34 years is along time for a thing to be our "latest technology".  The Vanguard, Mercury, and Gemini programs were only around a couple years each.

Weren't we supposed to send the Discovery probe to Jupiter in 2001?

[Bill Heher]

It may have been 30+ years old- but there is nothing currently in service that can come close to the capacity, versatility, and crew carrying capability of that awesome machine that served us so well.

We put a launch system in muesuems that most countries could only dream of having. Add to that the loss of thousands of the most experienced engineers in manned space flight and you have what I  consider a national disgrace.

Putting ourselves in the position of having to buy rides on an even more dated system ( Soyuz has been around for longer than the shuttle), from the Russians is just adding insult to injury.

Off my soapbox- gonna look at pics of preety stunt planes now!

[PJ Rowland]

Speaking of the Space Shuttle..

I had never seen one before until I went to the Smithsonian, the Udvar Hazy Centre has the Enterprise. What an awe Inspiring sight. I had NO IDEA it was as big as it was. I thought it was alot smaller, almost Spitfire size....... it was impressive, and those engines ! More power I saw.

Now I want to see the orange Booster tank - It must be HUGE !


I also saw the very first American Flag - at the Smithsonian, I also had no idea it was 35 ft long !

[Doug Moon]

Not much for comfort in those seats huh?  

I dont see a door to get in and out of it?  Can you go from the cockpit to the cargo bay internally?  Or external only?

Did you notice the use of Duct tape on the back wall?  Holding some hoses of some sort. AWESOME!!!

[John Stiles]

Not much for comfort in those seats huh?  

My 11yr.old daughter said the same thing(I told her they were fold-downs) .....but she really liked the joysticks!

[frank williams]

Doug ... this is the upper deck ... the lower deck has the air lock to the cargo bay .... the rear joystick and rear windows are for the MS to control the robotic arm.

Bill .... so true ... its a disgrace for the US to be "dead in the water" for years with no real plan for manned space flight.  For me, it was the right age to retire, after 40+ yrs of shuttle,  but I still had something to give.  For thousands here, the thirty year olds, we'll probably loose their talents forever.   Unfortunately, many of these "kids" voted for "hope and change" .  Well they got it. 

This is the last paragraph on the last page of the Obama 2008 "Education Plan".
IX. A COMMITMENT TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Barack Obama’s early education and K-12 plan package costs about $18 billion per year. He will maintain fiscal responsibility and prevent any increase in the deficit by offsetting cuts and revenue sources in other parts of the government. The early education plan will be paid for by delaying the NASA Constellation Program for five years, using purchase cards and the negotiating power of the government to reduce costs of standardized procurement, auctioning surplus federal property, and reducing the erroneous payments identified by the Government Accountability Office, and closing the CEO pay deductibility loophole. The rest of the plan will be funded using a small portion of the savings associated with fighting the war in Iraq.

[Bootlegger]

Hey Frank sent ya' a pm..

[Douglas Ames]

Speaking of the Space Shuttle..

I also saw the very first American Flag - at the Smithsonian, I also had no idea it was 35 ft long !

Hardly...This flag belonged to my Gr/Gr/Gr/Gr Grandfather, now in a private collection.

The flag your referring too was made in 1813 and inspired F. S. Key to write our Nat. Anthem.

[John Stiles]

Hardly...This flag belonged to my Gr/Gr/Gr/Gr Grandfather, now in a private collection.

The flag your referring too was made in 1813 and inspired F. S. Key to write our Nat. Anthem.

Thanks for that info...I should have already known that, being a direct descendant of Francis Scott Key! P/S Very cool history of the Nathaniel Ames Family!

[PJ Rowland]

That information aside - it was still awe inspiring to see.

[John Stiles]

That information aside - it was still awe inspiring to see.

Bet!