Mathew
07-07-2011, 09:55 PM
Well, the Space Shuttle Atlantis will be launching tomorrow, from Cape Canaveral in Florida, at 11:26am EST (4:26pm BST) and it will also mark the closure of the Space Shuttle program. Anyone going to be watching it on TV? Sadly, I'll still be at school at that time but I'll be watching it when I'm home for sure!
We've seen four space shuttle launches in real life. Two of them were through the day, but the other two were through the night. One of those happened whilst we were sailing on the Disney Cruise Line and the Captain announced that we should go to the top deck at midnight to witness it. The other one was the morning after we landed, so it was quite an interesting mix taking jet-lag into consideration! The last one we saw was just a couple of launches ago in February! :D Still, it's a truly amazing experience and I find it to be the perfect example of what man really can achieve.
Such a shame that it's coming to a close but I do suppose if it's costing too much, then it's for the best. I'm under the impression that they will now send people into space through disposable rockets, as apparently that's cheaper to run than repairing and reusing the shuttles. It seems odd though really, because I've just grown up knowing about the fuel tank dropping off.. boosters.. etc. We were kinda hoping this launch would be delayed until August when we're there! :P Although then again, the crowds will be crazy for it tomorrow; it was pretty much heaving for the others. I remember reading on the Orlando Sentinel that Titusville (the small town where we and thousands others watch the launch from) will become pretty much a ghost town as this was their main source of business.
Interesting nonetheless. It's been great!
We've seen four space shuttle launches in real life. Two of them were through the day, but the other two were through the night. One of those happened whilst we were sailing on the Disney Cruise Line and the Captain announced that we should go to the top deck at midnight to witness it. The other one was the morning after we landed, so it was quite an interesting mix taking jet-lag into consideration! The last one we saw was just a couple of launches ago in February! :D Still, it's a truly amazing experience and I find it to be the perfect example of what man really can achieve.
Such a shame that it's coming to a close but I do suppose if it's costing too much, then it's for the best. I'm under the impression that they will now send people into space through disposable rockets, as apparently that's cheaper to run than repairing and reusing the shuttles. It seems odd though really, because I've just grown up knowing about the fuel tank dropping off.. boosters.. etc. We were kinda hoping this launch would be delayed until August when we're there! :P Although then again, the crowds will be crazy for it tomorrow; it was pretty much heaving for the others. I remember reading on the Orlando Sentinel that Titusville (the small town where we and thousands others watch the launch from) will become pretty much a ghost town as this was their main source of business.
Interesting nonetheless. It's been great!