NASA Missions and other Spacey Stuff

[Draykov]

Just FYI in case anyone besides me gives a darn: Discovery's last launch should take place in the next couple of hours. It's not the last shuttle mission, but it's the last launch for Discovery, reputed to be the most flown spacecraft in history according to Charles Bolden.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/i ... ram=public

[Joedward]

One of the coolest, most fantastic and truly awesome things I have ever seen.
I just hope, at some point in my life time, they decide to bring back the program, and the shuttles, and I can watch a launch in person.

[MrCRskater]

Finally! Discovery was supposed to go up back in November. Then it was pushed back 1 day. Then 2 days. Then 3 days. Then early December. Then mid-to-late December. Then February. Glad it's finally on its way!

Kind of a bittersweet moment, the final flight of Discovery. It has flown several important missions, as all the shuttles have, and their final flights mark the close of one of the greatest chapters both space and human exploration. The worst part of it is that a replacement program has not been put in place!

[Draykov]

The worst part of it is that a replacement program has not been put in place!

Yeah, I'm still not entirely sure what's going on with the Ares/Orion part of the Constellation program. I think the program was initially killed, then maybe re-tasked? Returning to the moon, the original mission of Constellation, was dropped in favor of trying to get something going with Mars...I think. The president is trying to open things up for more privatized space exploration, but I'm still a little fuzzy on whether or not Constellation and all its associated hardware are actually dead.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35209628/ns ... nce-space/

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/420990main_FY_2 ... b_2010.pdf (see pg. 21)