The history of the space shuttle in photos
The history of the space shuttle in photos. Hat tip Clark Lindsey.
Tag: shuttle
NASA Foresees 2-Year Final Shuttle Retirement Phase
Seems a bit long to me: NASA foresees a two year period after the last shuttle lands to retire the program completely.
How to watch a shuttle launch
Some advice on how to watch the last shuttle launch.
It’s worth it, believe me.
Online prices soar for space shuttle Atlantis launch tickets
Better buy that ticket now if you want to see the last shuttle launch from the best spot: Online prices have soared for space shuttle Atlantis launch tickets.
NASA about to decide on its shuttle heavy-lift replacement
NASA is about to decide on its shuttle heavy-lift replacement, and it looks like it will be almost entirely shuttle-derived.
As I have said previously, this rocket will almost certainly never fly. NASA has to start over after spending billions and years developing Constellation, and is being given less money and time to do it.
And even if I am wrong and this rocket does fly, I bet it will do only one flight and then be retired as too costly.
A tanking test for the last shuttle flight encounters problems
During a tanking test of the space shuttle Atlantis today a valve to the main engines leaked, requiring replacement and raising questions whether the July 8 launch date can be met.
Shuttle’s end leaves NASA with a half billion dollar pension bill
The pork goes on: The shuttle’s end has still left NASA with a half billion dollar pension bill.
Camera being added to the last shuttle external tank
A camera has been installed on the last shuttle external tank so that its destruction in the atmosphere can be observed.
Endeavour Caught Fire During Landing
There was a small fire in Endeavour’s landing gear when it landed last week.
NASA Finally Releases Photos of Endeavour Docked at ISS
NASA has finally released the photos of Endeavour docked to ISS, taken from a departing Soyuz.
Endeavour — Crime-fighter!
The costs of space cargo
This week there was a bit of a political kerfuffle during House hearings over a House report [pdf] that stated that the cost per pound for launching cargo to ISS was much cheaper using the shuttle versus the new commercial companies under the COTS program. This is shown in this table from page 5 of the report:
The problem is that these numbers are a complete lie, as they are based on a yearly cost of $3 billion to operate the shuttle (highlighted in yellow). I have been following NASA budget battles now for decades, and the shuttle operational budget has never, ever been that low. Routinely, NASA figures the cost to operate the shuttle per year, regardless of number of flights, to be about $4 billion per year.
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Endeavour not expected to arrive in L.A. until late 2012
To the museum: Endeavour will not arrive in at its Los Angeles retirement home until late 2012.
Atlantis is rolled out to the launchpad
The last shuttle mission: Atlantis has now begun its journey to the launchpad.
Endeavour lands safely
Endeavour lands safely, for the last time.
Fincke Sets New U.S. Space Endurance Record
Astronaut Mike Fincke sets a new U.S. space endurance record.
Go for launch time lapse movie of shuttle assembly and launch
An evening pause: Saying goodbye to the shuttle. A time-lapse movie showing the assembly and then the night launch of a shuttle.
Note that the film is silent until the end.
False Fire Alarm Blares Out At Space Station
Life in space: A photo-op was interrupted today when a false fire alarm blared out on the International Space Station.
A hint at what the Soyuz images of the station and shuttle
A hint at what today’s images of the station and shuttle, taken from the Soyuz capsule, will look like.
Analysis shows damaged tile no threat to re-entry
Analysis has shown that the damaged shuttle tile on Endeavour is not a problem for re-entry.