Comments on: Preparing to say goodbye to the Shuttle http://earthsky.org/space/preparing-to-say-goodbye A Clear Voice for Science Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:06:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lorrie Uzee http://earthsky.org/space/preparing-to-say-goodbye/comment-page-1#comment-598025 Lorrie Uzee Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:05:08 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5111#comment-598025 Spot on with this write-up, I really assume this web site needs far more consideration. I’ll probably be again to read way more, thanks for that info. Spot on with this write-up, I really assume this web site needs far more consideration. I’ll probably be again to read way more, thanks for that info.

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://earthsky.org/space/preparing-to-say-goodbye/comment-page-1#comment-10768 Larry Sessions Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:13:23 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5111#comment-10768 Sorry that you didn't get to see it, but there still are several more launches planned, including one coming up in a couple of weeks. It's worth the trip. I was in the Astronaut Office Building many years ago, as well as a number of of buildings. I used to come down to Houston fairly often and a couple of times I got to go to one of the storage facilities, which at the time were out on Gemini as I recall. I got to go through lots of space hardware including suits and instruments, to pick out for display at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Man, that was a fun time! One thing I wish I had done was to go into the mission control. Never got to do that, but maybe someday. And you really should go see one of the few remaining launches if you can. With your connections, you might get up close in the press or VIP area just a couple of miles away -- just be sure to take lots of mosquito repellent! Sorry that you didn’t get to see it, but there still are several more launches planned, including one coming up in a couple of weeks. It’s worth the trip. I was in the Astronaut Office Building many years ago, as well as a number of of buildings. I used to come down to Houston fairly often and a couple of times I got to go to one of the storage facilities, which at the time were out on Gemini as I recall. I got to go through lots of space hardware including suits and instruments, to pick out for display at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Man, that was a fun time! One thing I wish I had done was to go into the mission control. Never got to do that, but maybe someday. And you really should go see one of the few remaining launches if you can. With your connections, you might get up close in the press or VIP area just a couple of miles away — just be sure to take lots of mosquito repellent!

]]> By: Claudia Crowley http://earthsky.org/space/preparing-to-say-goodbye/comment-page-1#comment-10767 Claudia Crowley Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:47:43 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5111#comment-10767 I never saw a launch, but I did get to work on the manuals for the shuttle in the early 80s. Our office was right there in the Astronaut Office Building. Coolest place I ever worked--I guess that goes without saying. Even seeing one being carried back across the country on a plane was awe-inspiring--or just plain inspiring. Hard to believe the program is over, but after all it has been nearly 30 years. I never saw a launch, but I did get to work on the manuals for the shuttle in the early 80s. Our office was right there in the Astronaut Office Building. Coolest place I ever worked–I guess that goes without saying.

Even seeing one being carried back across the country on a plane was awe-inspiring–or just plain inspiring.

Hard to believe the program is over, but after all it has been nearly 30 years.

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://earthsky.org/space/preparing-to-say-goodbye/comment-page-1#comment-10766 Larry Sessions Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:41:36 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5111#comment-10766 Kind of exciting, huh? I was out at JPL during one of the Voyager encounters in the early 80s. Wow, what a rush to see that stuff coming in. Not quite the same as seeing a shuttle launch, but cool nonetheless. LS Kind of exciting, huh? I was out at JPL during one of the Voyager encounters in the early 80s. Wow, what a rush to see that stuff coming in. Not quite the same as seeing a shuttle launch, but cool nonetheless.

LS

]]> By: Kelley http://earthsky.org/space/preparing-to-say-goodbye/comment-page-1#comment-10765 Kelley Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:29:29 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5111#comment-10765 Hi, I will be there to see the launch (keeping fingers crossed) on May 12. It will be awesome for me because I was present at the press conference that Space Telescope Science Institute released the first images after the last servicing mission. And a few weeks after this launch, I might be at the press conference again where they show the newest images after the repairs. Clear and dark skies, KKH Hi,

I will be there to see the launch (keeping fingers crossed) on May 12. It will be awesome for me because I was present at the press conference that Space Telescope Science Institute released the first images after the last servicing mission. And a few weeks after this launch, I might be at the press conference again where they show the newest images after the repairs.

Clear and dark skies,

KKH

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://earthsky.org/space/preparing-to-say-goodbye/comment-page-1#comment-10764 Larry Sessions Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:35:06 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5111#comment-10764 a p You'll be happy to know that the STS-125 mission, the Hubble Servicing mission, scheduled to launch on May 12, is set for a 28.5 degree orbital inclination to better match the HST. This will be good for folks in low latitudes, but will restrict possible sightings from high latitudes north and south. Assuming that you are at a lower latitude (was it Florida?), the lower inclinations may allow you more frequent sightings, but you should also have a chance with the higher inclinations as well. I can't speak to the specifics, but there is nothing about a 51 degree orbital inclination that would prevent it from pass overhead if you live anywhere between 51N and 51S, which includes most of the populated areas of the planet. An orbital inclination of 28.5 degreess restricts overhead passages to 28.5N to 28.5S. Although you may get more frequent passages at your latitude with 28.5 degree inclinations, the rest of the world gets higher chances at 51 degrees inclination. LS a p
You’ll be happy to know that the STS-125 mission, the Hubble Servicing mission, scheduled to launch on May 12, is set for a 28.5 degree orbital inclination to better match the HST. This will be good for folks in low latitudes, but will restrict possible sightings from high latitudes north and south. Assuming that you are at a lower latitude (was it Florida?), the lower inclinations may allow you more frequent sightings, but you should also have a chance with the higher inclinations as well. I can’t speak to the specifics, but there is nothing about a 51 degree orbital inclination that would prevent it from pass overhead if you live anywhere between 51N and 51S, which includes most of the populated areas of the planet. An orbital inclination of 28.5 degreess restricts overhead passages to 28.5N to 28.5S. Although you may get more frequent passages at your latitude with 28.5 degree inclinations, the rest of the world gets higher chances at 51 degrees inclination.

LS

]]> By: a p garcia http://earthsky.org/space/preparing-to-say-goodbye/comment-page-1#comment-10763 a p garcia Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:19:52 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5111#comment-10763 I did see the Shuttle once and it is a moment I will never forget. It was at a more reasonale 28 degrees inclination. Now that it mainly flies at 51 degrees inclination, to match the ISS, it rarely passes overhead and not easily visible from my location (low on the horizon if at all). Perhaps the Mission to fix Hubble will mean it will be visible from my location. I did see the Shuttle once and it is a moment I will never forget. It was at a more reasonale 28 degrees inclination. Now that it mainly flies at 51 degrees inclination, to match the ISS, it rarely passes overhead and not easily visible from my location (low on the horizon if at all). Perhaps the Mission to fix Hubble will mean it will be visible from my location.

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