Ace of Spades HQ

February 24, 2011

Last Flight of Discovery
— rdbrewer

Now that Discovery is in safely in space, the Livestream box is safely below the fold.

Update: Here is a link to the NASA Livestream. The embed was getting a little slow.

Posted by: rdbrewer at 12:43 PM | Comments (134)
Post contains 40 words, total size 1 kb.

1 is that asshole Mr Giffords on this flight?

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 12:44 PM (uFokq)

2 No longer a space faring country.
Yeah...

Posted by: MīcÞeMūs at February 24, 2011 12:46 PM (0q2P7)

3 OMFG!! Mitch Daniels just defended Obama's gutting of the Space Program on Cavuto. This guy is a single issue candidate. The only vision for the nation he has is a clean balance sheet.

Posted by: Serious Cat at February 24, 2011 12:46 PM (bAySe)

4 Is it going to spread good will among the Muzzies in space?

Posted by: Vic at February 24, 2011 12:46 PM (M9Ie6)

5 I have simple criteria for my choice for GOP nominee: Anyone who does not side with Obama. Because, and I know this is a lot to ask but, we WANT TO DEFEAT THAT OBAMA FUCK, not make nice-nice with him.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 12:49 PM (uFokq)

6 Range is a GO. Arabs will never be able to do this.

Posted by: USS Diversity at February 24, 2011 12:50 PM (DLxD/)

7 I never really dug the space shuttle. It just seemed like a big gimmick. Okay, parts of it are reusable. Okay, part of it glides back to earth. Okay. Not really Amazing Stories level stuff. Just a jumped-up rocket.

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 12:50 PM (nj1bB)

8 These announcers are tools. I had to mute. Awful. Like Fred Willard in Best in Show.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 24, 2011 12:51 PM (pLTLS)

9 I'd like to see more work on the laser propulsion system.

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 12:51 PM (nj1bB)

10 Yeah ace but it's good old American know how. Got to have a little love for that

Posted by: USS Diversity at February 24, 2011 12:52 PM (DLxD/)

Godspeed, Discovery!

BTW, I heard earlier that Giffords was not on this flight as it wasn't really the last one. I still don't know what that's about.

Posted by: ErikW at February 24, 2011 12:52 PM (zphkI)

12 It's 40+ year old technology. Shit, the shuttle was featured in MOONRAKER in 1979, 32 years ago.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 12:52 PM (uFokq)

13 They were making FORD PINTOs 32 years ago.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 12:52 PM (uFokq)

14 Good riddance to manned flight. And take NASA with you.

Posted by: Asscheeks of Saturn at February 24, 2011 12:53 PM (le5qc)

15 And....
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
.
.
We are no longer a world leader in space exploration.

Posted by: MīcÞeMūs at February 24, 2011 12:53 PM (0q2P7)

16 9 I'd like to see more work on the laser propulsion system.

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 04:51 PM (nj1bB

Travis Taylor says the advances in lasers will make that a great way to launch cargo.

Posted by: Quilly Mammoth at February 24, 2011 12:54 PM (4yjiA)

Smooth take-off.

We can thank the Muslim Community for that, I suppose.

*heartfelt thanks*

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 24, 2011 12:54 PM (pLTLS)

18 socialized medicine, and now no more space flights... heheh, we just became even more like Canada.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 12:55 PM (uFokq)

19 >>>Shit, the shuttle was featured in MOONRAKER in 1979, 32 years ago Sure... built by an Anglo-American company, heavy on the Anglo. I've been watching Dr. Who lately and one of my go-to jokes is pointing out that the show's biggest fantasy conceit is that the British are and will be major, major players in space exploration. I love that joke. "Okay, I buy the immortal alien and the time travel, but here comes the deal breaker of the British having a Death Star laser in Cardiff." Of course, it's beginning to get hard to imagine America has a future in space too (or even on earth).

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 12:55 PM (nj1bB)

20 It's 40+ year old technology.

So is the M-16 rifle what's your point?

Posted by: Buzzsaw at February 24, 2011 12:56 PM (tf9Ne)

21 Never gets old.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 24, 2011 12:56 PM (TMB3S)

22 2 more flights scheduled I think...last one for this bird.

Posted by: USS Diversity at February 24, 2011 12:57 PM (DLxD/)

23 Shit, the shuttle was featured in MOONRAKER in 1979, 32 years ago.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 04:52 PM (uFokq)

And that fucking thing was able to take off without an external tank and SRB's!

Crafty folks, they were.

Posted by: ErikW at February 24, 2011 12:57 PM (zphkI)

24 Wow, so far so good!

...what were those two little black things falling off?

Posted by: The Leprechauns at February 24, 2011 12:57 PM (H+LJc)

25 Man, that was some nerve-wracking shit. After that hold was off, longest five minutes ever.

I saw a big block of insulation fly off about two minutes ago.

Posted by: rdbrewer at February 24, 2011 12:59 PM (NG1bi)

26 This is the first time I am watching a launch since the first post-Challenger one in 1988 (we watched it in school).

Posted by: Chris R at February 24, 2011 12:59 PM (QiNmA)

27 saw those two black things go shooting by the camera. they looked pretty big. tiles?

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at February 24, 2011 12:59 PM (KAa3c)

28 Of course, it's beginning to get hard to imagine America has a future in space too (or even on earth).

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 04:55 PM (nj1bB)

Really? What about Space X, Bigelow, Aramadillo, Virgin Galactic....

Posted by: Quilly Mammoth at February 24, 2011 01:00 PM (4yjiA)

29 How long till they get to Mars?

Posted by: USS Diversity at February 24, 2011 01:00 PM (DLxD/)

30 I hear the next version is going to be electric!

Posted by: dan in michigan at February 24, 2011 01:00 PM (ursg4)

31 It's 40+ year old technology.

So is the M-16 rifle what's your point?

Yeah my long bow is a bunch older yet. What's your point? You can't update shit to make it better?

Posted by: MīcÞeMūs at February 24, 2011 01:00 PM (0q2P7)

32 >>>I saw a big block of insulation fly off about two minutes ago. Oh god... when the first person asked about that I thought he was making a gallows-humor joke.

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 01:01 PM (nj1bB)

33 no longbows

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 01:01 PM (nj1bB)

34 Not really Amazing Stories level stuff. Just a jumped-up rocket.

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 04:50 PM (nj1bB)

We were supposed to have the tandem spaceplane, with a fully-functioning airplane lower half and a re-entry-capable rocket-propelled winged orbital vehicle upper half.

I saw the damn thing in my Time-Life Science Library SPACE book back in 1966! (Artist's conception.)

Posted by: stuiec at February 24, 2011 01:01 PM (JuWS+)

35 How long till they get to Mars? Posted by: USS Diversity at February 24, 2011 05:00 PM (DLxD/)\ They? Who they? The Russians? The USA? When we can afford to to buy a ticket from the Russians it seems, or that's Obama's plan

Posted by: nevergiveup at February 24, 2011 01:02 PM (0GFWk)

I actually heard someone say today, 'What was the Columbia?'

Jesus H. Christ.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 24, 2011 01:02 PM (pLTLS)

37 Modern chemical rockets are 80 years old.

Posted by: Chris R at February 24, 2011 01:02 PM (QiNmA)

38 Yeah my long bow is a bunch older yet. What's your point? You can't update shit to make it better?

Both the shuttle and the M-16 have been updated and made better off 40+ year old platforms. So just because something is 40+ doesn't make it useless is my point.

Posted by: Buzzsaw at February 24, 2011 01:03 PM (tf9Ne)

Oh god... when the first person asked about that I thought he was making a gallows-humor joke.

How gauche.

Posted by: garrett at February 24, 2011 01:03 PM (g7hbH)

40 How much is the cam worth they leave attached to the tank?

Posted by: USS Diversity at February 24, 2011 01:03 PM (DLxD/)

41 The insulation floated between the external tank and the shuttle. Doesn't look like it accelerated very fast, and it stayed pretty much between the two.

Posted by: rdbrewer at February 24, 2011 01:03 PM (NG1bi)

42 2nd hand celebration?

Posted by: The Leprechauns at February 24, 2011 01:03 PM (H+LJc)

43 Well, this some bullshit:
A Tulsa police captain has filed a federal lawsuit claiming his civil rights were violated after he was reassigned and placed under investigation for refusing to order officers to attend a voluntary social event at a mosque.

Posted by: Quilly Mammoth at February 24, 2011 01:03 PM (4yjiA)

44 Crossbows?

Posted by: garrett at February 24, 2011 01:04 PM (g7hbH)

45 Did you know that the ancient Muslims invented the Socratic Method of teaching? It's true. They also invented the Boston Eclair pastry.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:04 PM (uFokq)

46 We always run out and watch in our backyard. All we can see is a bright dot and a vapor trail but we still act like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Posted by: csm at February 24, 2011 01:04 PM (Gw4Kc)

47 Oh god... when the first person asked about that I thought he was making a gallows-humor joke.

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 05:01 PM (nj1bB)

It can survive one or two isolated cooling blocks falling off (if they don't hit anything else on the way down). It's when a half-dozen in a cluster come off that the problem becomes truly horrifying.

(I've been in the Orbiter Refurbishment Building at KSC. It's a pretty cool jigsaw puzzle all over that bird -- lots of different shapes, sizes and thicknesses of the tiles.)

Posted by: stuiec at February 24, 2011 01:04 PM (JuWS+)

48 I thought those commentators were interesting. They were less formal than I'm used to.

Posted by: rdbrewer at February 24, 2011 01:04 PM (NG1bi)

49 How long till they get to Mars?

Posted by: USS Diversity at February 24, 2011 05:00 PM (DLxD/)

We've already been there, stupid.

Posted by: Sheila Jackson Lee at February 24, 2011 01:05 PM (zphkI)

How much is the cam worth they leave attached to the tank?

Three-Fiddy.

Posted by: Chef's Dad at February 24, 2011 01:05 PM (g7hbH)

51 The long bow was still the best weapon in warfare until the invention of the breech loading cartridge fed rifle in the mid 19th century. The reason it fell out of favor was because of the amount of training it took to use it to it's maximum potential. The gun was just better for dumb soldiers to master.

We still use B52's. We still MAKE Browning M2 .50 machine guns. Old does not mean bad.

Posted by: Chris R at February 24, 2011 01:06 PM (QiNmA)

52 I've been watching Dr. Who lately and one of my go-to jokes is pointing out that the show's biggest fantasy conceit is that the British are and will be major, major players in space exploration.

And also that whenever aliens want to screw with the Earth, they always go to the UK first. But my most favorite joke from the newer Who series is that the BBC is able to explain away the aliens every time they blow something up in Cardiff or the Daleks invade London or whatever.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 24, 2011 01:07 PM (p05LM)

53 We are no longer a world leader in space exploration.

But we're the leader in time travel!

(You just arrived from 1973 and posted, right?)

Posted by: oblig. at February 24, 2011 01:07 PM (xvZW9)

54 Which console is the Muslim desk?

Posted by: USS Diversity at February 24, 2011 01:07 PM (DLxD/)

55 Good riddance to a monumental waste of money, talent and various other resources that should have been put to much better use in our space program.

NASA lost its way. Luckily, the private sector is beginning to come into its own on this front.

Posted by: krakatoa at February 24, 2011 01:08 PM (a0Jhx)

56 By the way, more proof of evolution, specifically that Morons are the missing link between monkeys and Liberals.

Capuchin monkeys, that are found across Central and South America, routinely urinate in their hands and rub the liquid around their body.

The reason for the strange habit has been a mystery to scientists for years.

Some thought the urine lowered body temperature, while others claimed it enabled the monkeys to identify particular individuals by smell.

Now the mystery has been solved. A new study, published in the American Journal of Primatology, has found the urine Â‘turns onÂ’ female monkeys.

Come on, ladies, admit it!

Posted by: stuiec at February 24, 2011 01:08 PM (JuWS+)

57 True. But 'old' tech, when it comes to space travel, translates to limited options. Such as never getting past the Moon for a round-trip mission.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:08 PM (uFokq)

58 Which console is the Muslim desk? Posted by: USS Diversity

They were tied to the luggage rack. oops

Posted by: The Leprechauns at February 24, 2011 01:08 PM (H+LJc)

59 the view, the view

Posted by: The Leprechauns at February 24, 2011 01:09 PM (H+LJc)

60 Did it launch? I can't find video of it launching, only asshole eunuchs talking about it.

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at February 24, 2011 01:09 PM (qIHlG)

61 Actually, the Shuttle can't even land anywhere except on a runway, so even it could travel long distances it can only orbit, say, Mars.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:09 PM (uFokq)

62 Once I thought the shuttle was the coolest thing ever but when I looked closer at the economics it turned out to be a bad move. Hopefully we can make up for lost time with privatizing and NASA can just contract out for launches. As for manned exploration...we'll get back to that when the Russians or the Chinese establish a base on the moon and probably not a day beforehand.

Posted by: joncelli at February 24, 2011 01:10 PM (RD7QR)

63 O/t: this is horrible. We seem to have lost that American attention to detail that prevents things like this from happening.

Posted by: curious at February 24, 2011 01:10 PM (p302b)

64 I would dispute that there is any safety in space.

Posted by: maddogg at February 24, 2011 01:11 PM (OlN4e)

65 How you say "go, flight" in Farsi?

Posted by: Muslim Capcom at February 24, 2011 01:11 PM (DLxD/)

66 >>>And also that whenever aliens want to screw with the Earth, they always go to the UK first. Right. In the past, it makes sense, though. >>>But my most favorite joke from the newer Who series is that the BBC is able to explain away the aliens every time they blow something up in Cardiff or the Daleks invade London or whatever. Wrong.... they don't do that. In the New Who, the alien invasions have been large and spectacular and everyone now knows about them. in fact there have been so many huge invasions (many on Christmas, because there's always a big christmas special) the show makes jokes about people now dreading the holiday season. I haven't watched the fifth season all the way through yet. It appears they may be setting up a retcon to explain that those invasions didn't happen or that humanity's memory of htem was wiped out or something. Which I wouldn't mind, because the series went to that well far too many times. 4 season finales + 4 chirstmas specials = far too many major invasions of earth.

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 01:11 PM (nj1bB)

INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO SHUTTLE AFTER LAUNCH.

"Foam" like materials came off at about 3mins post launch. Likely not a huge issue but the engineers will obviously be analyzing it to max extreme to ensure nothing wrong.

Posted by: ObamaSuxDonkeyBalls at February 24, 2011 01:12 PM (w74G6)

68 That insulation? It looked like it was four feet across. Prolly the size of a suitcase, but it looked bigger. Seems like. But like I said, it didn't appear to hit anything. Well, it didn't hit the tiles very hard. Hit at a shallow angle. Bounced off. (It didn't hit like that killer one, head-on to the leading edge of the wing, nearly perpendicular.)

Posted by: rdbrewer at February 24, 2011 01:12 PM (NG1bi)

69 Fucking Herbie Hancock!

Posted by: rdbrewer at February 24, 2011 01:13 PM (NG1bi)

70 Is that an Obama button the guest is wearing?

Posted by: The Leprechauns at February 24, 2011 01:13 PM (H+LJc)

71 >>>Actually, the Shuttle can't even land anywhere except on a runway, so even it could travel long distances it can only orbit, say, Mars. without good air it would have little lift so I'm guessing it would slam into the planet like a stone.

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 01:13 PM (nj1bB)

72 Did you know I can bench press 300 pounds

Posted by: The man at February 24, 2011 01:13 PM (vrDK+)

73 #49. Yep. Already been there. We planted a flag on Mars to prove it.

Posted by: ObamaSuxDonkeyBalls at February 24, 2011 01:13 PM (w74G6)

74 You don't find the last Doctor a little bi-polar, overly dramatic, and extremely self-righteous?

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:13 PM (uFokq)

75 >>> Likely not a huge issue but the engineers will obviously be analyzing it to max extreme to ensure nothing wrong. but what's the backup plan if they do find something wrong? I guess another shuttle launches for emergency rescue?

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 01:13 PM (nj1bB)

76 hahaha @ Herbie Hancock When did he join NASA?

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:14 PM (uFokq)

77 I don't think the shuttle can even break earth orbit fully.

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at February 24, 2011 01:14 PM (qIHlG)

78 Now they spend 11 days making sure it's OK to try and land it.

Posted by: Muslim Capcom at February 24, 2011 01:14 PM (DLxD/)

79 Um, Herbie Hancock? Lionel Ritchie wasn't available?

Posted by: joncelli at February 24, 2011 01:14 PM (RD7QR)

80 O/t: this is horrible. We seem to have lost that American attention to detail that prevents things like this from happening.

Posted by: curious at February 24, 2011 05:10 PM (p302b)

Fascinating in a truly blood-curdling sense. So the Coast Guard was telling cleanup boats during the Gulf oil spill to turn back to port for lack of life vests or fire extinguishers, but when the regulators found that the day care center in Houston didn't have a fire extinguisher, they let it stay open.

Posted by: stuiec at February 24, 2011 01:15 PM (JuWS+)

81 Where Qadhafi posts his portrait everywhere in Libya, similarly in vain fashion, Obama has plastered his campaign insignia everywhere on everything. Obama would replace the 50 stars on the US Flag with his buttons /keep track who said that idea first before someone painted/sewed it to market.

Posted by: The Leprechauns at February 24, 2011 01:16 PM (H+LJc)

82 So just because something is 40+ doesn't make it useless is my point.

Right, as long as your down with the limitations of the original platform.
Like after 40+ years of space exploration, you were cool with never getting out of near orbit. Kind of like my bow. If your cool with only being able to kill at 30 yds or less with huge gaps between shots it's a great weapon. If you want to go further or do more, you have to develop more. Updating the same ole stuff only gets you so much. And considering we used to lead the way in manned space exploration, going 40 years without any new innovation in that area is a disappointment.

Posted by: MīcÞeMūs at February 24, 2011 01:16 PM (0q2P7)

83 Joining us now is Little Richard. "Little, what do you think about the Shuttle?"

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:16 PM (uFokq)

84 Sorry, but when when the last shuttle blew up on re-entry and it turned out that the problem was the same damn problem they had since flight #1 and their solution for it all this time was 'let's hope it isn't a problem,' that's the moment I said 'Fuck NASA.'

Posted by: nickless at February 24, 2011 01:16 PM (MMC8r)

85 in fact there have been so many huge invasions (many on Christmas, because there's always a big christmas special) the show makes jokes about people now dreading the holiday season.

Yes and no - I got the impression people in general knew something had happened but had accepted some bullshit explanation that didn't involve aliens or the Doctor.

Torchwood kinda half-heartedly papers over the attractiveness of Cardiff to aliens by putting an invisible dimensional rip thingy there.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 24, 2011 01:16 PM (p05LM)

86 >>>So just because something is 40+ doesn't make it useless is my point. Doesn't help, either.

Posted by: ace's dick at February 24, 2011 01:16 PM (nj1bB)

87 Posted by: nickless at February 24, 2011 05:16 PM (MMC8r)

this, among many other failings.

Posted by: krakatoa at February 24, 2011 01:17 PM (a0Jhx)

88 We still MAKE Browning M2 .50 machine guns.

We haven't made one since WWII ended.
You're saying we should pack the shuttle in cosmoline, for later?

Posted by: comatus at February 24, 2011 01:17 PM (W5ilH)

89 Boeing wins Tanker contract from US Air Force

Posted by: nevergiveup at February 24, 2011 01:17 PM (0GFWk)

90 Is that Meshach Taylor? "Hey, the guy from 'Mannequin' is here to give us his thoughts on the shuttle launch!"

Posted by: nickless at February 24, 2011 01:18 PM (MMC8r)

91 >>>Yes and no - I got the impression people in general knew something had happened but had accepted some bullshit explanation that didn't involve aliens or the Doctor. well I'm not done with the fifth season, so there may be some retcon coming in which the past four years' of universe-history are rewritten. But previous to this season, it has been widely known that aliens invade every sweeps period.

Posted by: ace's dick at February 24, 2011 01:18 PM (nj1bB)

92 Actually, the Shuttle can't even land anywhere except on a runway, so even it could travel long distances it can only orbit, say, Mars.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 05:09 PM (uFokq)

IIRC, the Shuttle was originally designed to be a workhorse that would deliver materials into orbit to faciltate the construction of a manned Mars exploratory vehicle.

Or a secret orbital nuke delivery station, depending on what wackjob you believe.

Posted by: ErikW at February 24, 2011 01:18 PM (zphkI)

93 You don't find the last Doctor a little bi-polar, overly dramatic, and extremely self-righteous?

I think that's what makes him believable as a composite of the earlier Doctors, especially Tom Baker (who rivaled Shatner for scenery chewing capability).

Posted by: Ian S. at February 24, 2011 01:18 PM (p05LM)

94 Sort of related: Hotair reports E.T. II may be in the offing. Allow me to channel my inner Darth Vsder: NNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! What's the plot line? ET returns to look for Eliot, only to discover that he's now a paunchy crack addict that soon realizes he can sell ET to an animal lab? I'm sure the plot will be terribly PC. The family now consists of a latina lesbian couple with adopted kids from Surinam and an ftom the Amazon, that soon to decide to shrink ET's head. "ET hate PC! ET hate PC!!"

Posted by: CoolCzech at February 24, 2011 01:19 PM (tJjm/)

95 They would launch rescue flight is what the commentators were saying. But what do they know. Their real full-time jobs are probably as pool-cleaners. Tools.

Posted by: ObamaSuxDonkeyBalls at February 24, 2011 01:20 PM (w74G6)

96 How you say "go, flight" in Farsi?

Posted by: Muslim Capcom at February 24, 2011 05:11 PM (DLxD/)

AAALALALALALALALALALALA!!!!!!

Posted by: ErikW at February 24, 2011 01:20 PM (zphkI)

OT! ABC MANUFACTURES FALSE GINGER ABUSE!!!!

http://tinyurl.com/6yk7fjx

Posted by: robtr at February 24, 2011 01:20 PM (hVDig)

98 Meshach Talyor's best work was on Designing Women. Annie Potts was cute. She was also in CORVETTE SUMMER with Luke Skywalker.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:21 PM (uFokq)

99 but what's the backup plan if they do find something wrong?

I guess another shuttle launches for emergency rescue?

Posted by: ace at February 24, 2011 05:13 PM (nj1bB)

They did develop a tile repair kit at one point, so that the crew could do an EVA to glue a patch on. Problem is, it's never been fully tested.

They can always head to the International Space Station to hang out until a rescue capsule comes -- but it might take a few trips of rescue capsules to retrieve the entire crew.

Posted by: stuiec at February 24, 2011 01:21 PM (JuWS+)

100 Boeing wins Tanker contract from US Air Force

Only the price was in question.

Posted by: pay to play at February 24, 2011 01:22 PM (GTbGH)

101 Posted by: CoolCzech at February 24, 2011 05:19 PM (tJjm/)

The absolute lack of originality, imagination and guts coming out of hollywood these days is way too obvious. I think it is because in the past things were done as art, because you had a craft and you honed it and grew, now, however, it's all about making the money. Art, honing the craft and making the money sometimes don't mesh as well as one might like them too.

I think of all the wonderful frank capra movies and wonder where the next frank capra is?

Posted by: curious at February 24, 2011 01:22 PM (p302b)

102 70 Is that an Obama button the guest is wearing?

Posted by: The Leprechauns at February 24, 2011 05:13 PM (H+LJc)

Heh. I was thinking the same thing. It resembles an Obama/Biden bumper sticker I see affixed to some douchebag's Land Rover every day in the parking lot at work.

But, no; it's a shuttle button.

Posted by: Herr Blücher at February 24, 2011 01:23 PM (D5FQB)

103 So is Gaddafi dead? And are we ever gonna settle on a single spelling of his name?

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:23 PM (uFokq)

104
Meshach Talyor's best work was on Designing Women.

Designing Women is a trip through the cesspool of liberal pomposity.

Remember them 'watching' the Clarence Thomas Lynching?

Insufferable liberal fantasy propaganda where anyone with a different opinion is an incapable dimwitted troglodyte who is unable to counter the untouchable brilliance of our loving main characters.

Posted by: nickless at February 24, 2011 01:23 PM (MMC8r)

105 krakatoa at February 24, 2011 05:08 PM

You're likely right. As with unions that have outlived their original purpose now that labor laws are on the books across the nation and in every state, the space program needs to go private. Being on the tax dollar provides far too much opportunity to squander funding. Leaving politicians in charge of the space program was a sure way to detour it from exceptional-ism. And government employees, now unionized, are the ones who couldn't get a job in the leading market place. Once upon a time, when the space program began, there was no competition and there was a general lack of either interest or conviction in the idea of sending a man to the moon or to Mars as your business' main purpose. That was then and this is now. Hell, if out of financial stress our Air Force must be built in France of various foreign components to provide national defense, why would the US taxpayers have the money to fund NASA that failed to design a proper landing for the robotic photographer of Mars that crashed on impact.

Posted by: The Leprechauns at February 24, 2011 01:24 PM (H+LJc)

106 Boeing wins Tanker contract from US Air Force

Only the price was in question.

Posted by: pay to play at February 24, 2011 05:22 PM (GTbGH)

win win as far as I am concerned, 11,000 new jobs in washington and the air force won't be flying a french plane.

Posted by: robtr at February 24, 2011 01:25 PM (hVDig)

107 The Shuttlers should try to see if they can find the WI senators from up there.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:25 PM (uFokq)

108 We haven't made one since WWII ended.
You're saying we should pack the shuttle in cosmoline, for later?

Posted by: comatus at February 24, 2011 05:17 PM (W5ilH)

I'm sure the people at General Dynamics and US Ordnance are wondering what the fuck they are making then. All this time they thought they were making M2s. Oh yeah, and that big ass machine gun that FN still sells overseas? Guess those were made in WWII also.

Posted by: Quilly Mammoth at February 24, 2011 01:25 PM (4yjiA)

109 I read a post somewhere where the person said k daffy would go out like hitler. I think it was alleged that hitler took his own life. But then again, the conspiracy nuts say he lived out his life in South America. So, if you read the stories about k daffy's private plane being at the ready, loaded up with "the gold" and being expected in Zimbabwe or by hugo, makes you wonder if he'll fake his death and go off to either Africa or south America.

Posted by: . at February 24, 2011 01:26 PM (p302b)

110 Whats with the "This gun is still cool after 40 years" bs?
How many of you F*'s who are saying 40 years for tech ain't bad are still watching your movies on DVD? How about VHS? How about 8mm. Thats right, you'd still be watching it on 8mm.

Making calls on Rotary phones?

Still using electric typewriters and carbon paper for copies?

8 Track much?

For F* sake, a space vehicle is supposed to be the zenith of your best tech. 40 years old is ancient for technology.

If this space shuttle was a car, you could get a vintage plate for it.

Posted by: MīcÞeMūs at February 24, 2011 01:27 PM (0q2P7)

111 "103 So is Gaddafi dead? And are we ever gonna settle on a single spelling of his name?" Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 05:23 PM (uFokq) Well what about Mubarak, slipping into a coma right after his last speech? A bullet thru the cranium can do that, you know...

Posted by: CoolCzech at February 24, 2011 01:27 PM (tJjm/)

112 If I recall, Designing Women was produced by, ohshit I forget her name, a Clinton rump-swab and close friend from AR.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:27 PM (uFokq)

113

They did develop a tile repair kit at one point, so that the crew could do an EVA to glue a patch on. Problem is, it's never been fully tested.

They can always head to the International Space Station to hang out until a rescue capsule comes -- but it might take a few trips of rescue capsules to retrieve the entire crew.

Posted by: stuiec at February 24, 2011 05:21 PM (JuWS+)

It's kinda like a tire patch kit, essentially a hot glue gun with cut-to-form tiles.

Posted by: ErikW at February 24, 2011 01:27 PM (zphkI)

114 Mubarak is in a coma? I thought he was skiing in Zurich.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 01:28 PM (uFokq)

115 It's kinda like a tire patch kit, essentially a hot glue gun with cut-to-form tiles. Posted by: ErikW at February 24, 2011 05:27 PM (zphkI) Yes and a bible, teffilin, and rosary beads so you can pray like hell on re-entry!

Posted by: nevergiveup at February 24, 2011 01:28 PM (0GFWk)

116 heheh, we just became even more like Canada.

Posted by: Soothsayer's twisted logic at February 24, 2011 04:55 PM (uFokq)

Nope. We've become more like Greece.

Posted by: Soona at February 24, 2011 01:29 PM (KVVsl)

117 Here we go. External tank camera. Look for the insulation.

Posted by: rdbrewer at February 24, 2011 01:30 PM (NG1bi)

118 I'm nauseous, the American Dream has been co opted by Communism.

Posted by: curious at February 24, 2011 01:30 PM (p302b)

119 well, beck's going all in with this program.

Posted by: . at February 24, 2011 01:33 PM (p302b)

120 See it?

Posted by: rdbrewer at February 24, 2011 01:33 PM (NG1bi)

121

Posted by: MīcÃžeMūs at February 24, 2011 05:27 PM (0q2P7)

But the B-52 "Buff" is still kicking some serious ass.

Posted by: Soona at February 24, 2011 01:33 PM (KVVsl)

122 win win as far as I am concerned

Mobile Alabama hardest hit.

Posted by: toby928™ at February 24, 2011 01:34 PM (GTbGH)

123 OMG, now Ace is double posting his own posts.

Posted by: curious at February 24, 2011 01:37 PM (p302b)

124

When are we going to stop letting in middle east "students" to our country?

Posted by: Soona at February 24, 2011 01:38 PM (KVVsl)

125 110 Those technologies were abandoned by force. The recording industry stopped making LP's, I bought cassettes. After they stopped making cassettes, I switched to CD's. I still use a VCR, I do not own an MP3 player and I still listen to CD's (because they sound better than compressed mp3's).

Posted by: Chris R at February 24, 2011 01:38 PM (QiNmA)

126 Virginia just passed a bill requiring all abortion mills clinics to pass hospital safety standards. The usual bloodthirsty proabortion groups horrified about limiting murders women's rights.

Posted by: dagny at February 24, 2011 01:38 PM (In1re)

127 I had high hopes for the shuttle that never panned out.
I thought that they would reach orbit and then open the cargo bay doors to release a small version of say an F22 type space vehicle. Two person - with the capability to reach the moon - land and return to the shuttle. And as an added bonus be capable of striking any location on earth with smart ass laser weapons to maintain world peace.
But Nooooooo.

Posted by: melvin at February 24, 2011 01:38 PM (3OCZw)

128

Once Discovery gets its doors open, the crew will use a camera on the robotic arm to inspect the tiles to see if any on the undersurface are missing.

Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour are not as tile intensive as Columbia and Challenger were. They received a silica blanket thermal protection system for less heat critical areas like the OMS pods.

Hopefully the camera inspection and ISS look over don't find anything. If they do find a tile on the undersurface missing, then its the post Columbia repair kit. Big chunk? Then Discovery becomes an extension to the ISS while NASA talks to Russia for a couple Soyuz capsules.

Discovery history - Launch 17 June 1985 OV-103 carried aloft a seven man crew that included Patrick Baudry of France and Salman Abdel-aziz Al-Saud. So I guess Obama missed the memo NASA has already done Islamic outreach.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 24, 2011 01:41 PM (w3wZO)

129 Yes and a bible, teffilin, and rosary beads so you can pray like hell on re-entry!

Posted by: nevergiveup at February 24, 2011 05:28 PM (0GFWk)

I'd hate to be the guy on that job.

Houston: "Remember all the billions we've spent on sub-orbital, hypersonic air foil testing?"

EVA Dude: "Yeah?"

Houston: "Don't fuck it up or it's your ass."

Posted by: ErikW at February 24, 2011 01:42 PM (FaI/3)

130 Well, once you American infidels are grounded like we are, it will do wonders for our self-esteem.

Posted by: Muslims Worldwide at February 24, 2011 01:44 PM (MMC8r)

131 I can see the Space Station from my front porch.

Posted by: ObamaSuxDonkeyBalls at February 24, 2011 02:05 PM (w74G6)

132

If I recall, Designing Women was produced by, ohshit I forget her name, a Clinton rump-swab and close friend from AR

Linda Bloodworth Thomason (sp?). Great "friend" of Teh Slick One.

Who's Jugeared McF*stick's BFF? (besides Kaddaffi, er, Quadaffi, er, Whothefcaresadaffi)

Posted by: Jess at February 24, 2011 02:31 PM (OXvHP)

133 64 I would dispute that there is any safety in space. Posted by: maddogg

Don't pander to me, kid. One tiny crack in the hull and our blood boils in thirteen seconds. Solar flare might crop up, cook us in our seats.

And wait till you're sitting pretty with a case of Andorian shingles, see if you're so relaxed when your eyeballs are bleeding.

Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence.

Posted by: Leonard H. McCoy, M.D. at February 24, 2011 02:41 PM (zeR5Z)

134 Jim Baen said it best: "Sometimes the space program reminds me of a government agency." NASA of the 1960s accomplished the amazing feat of putting humans on the Moon pretty much from scratch in one decade precisely because it had not yet developed the internal sclerosis, careerism, cowardice, affirmative action and political correctness which characterize the rest of the federal government. As soon as the 1970s arrived, so did all of those poisonous attributes, and NASA promptly turned into the United States Postal Service, but with rockets. The challenge, glory and undeniable advancement of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo promptly decayed into three decades of expensively flying the Shuttle to Nowhere and building the Station to Nowhere. Whoop-te-doo. If you want America to have a future in space, you better be cheering on the private sector. Even though it's going to mean cheering for arrogant dot-com fuckwits like Elon Musk. Because even that is better than the alternative of more bureaucratic, risk-averse federal stagnation. Left to their own devices with no budget cuts, the Postal Service With Rockets would still be flying the Shuttle to Nowhere on periodic resupply missions for the Station to Nowhere at the same time that the Chinese were landing astronauts on Mars.

Posted by: torquewrench at February 24, 2011 03:39 PM (aWrFJ)

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