The ultimate techy machine nearing retirement?

[Dal]

The last mission by the Space Shuttle Discovery has just finished with a successful landing.

That's 39 missions in 27 years totalling just 4 days off a year in space in that time.

The last ever Space Shuttle mission should be with Atlantis on June 28th 2011 and will be end of a very successful era with 135 missions and only 2 failures (Challenger launch and Columbia re-entry burn-up) since it started 30 years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well done SS :thumbs:

 

[Scotty1.7]

so whats its replacement then? Have they had anything in development?

 

[mix2000]

The X-37B Secret Space Plane (So secret everyone knows about it :-D )

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqqH5IwWeo4[/youtube]

 

[Scotty1.7]

just show's a rocket being launched? There's loads of rumoured thing's going on- x33, x34, x48 but there just rumours, there's no proof at all. I don't think we have anything yet.

 

[ianv5]

Apparently NASA are considering this design as a cost cutting exercise:

http://motortorque.askaprice.com/images/features/428-288/Top-Gear-reliant-21532.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[mix2000]

just show's a rocket being launched? There's loads of rumoured thing's going on- x33, x34, x48 but there just rumours, there's no proof at all. I don't think we have anything yet.

Has been launched twice. They're not saying what the payload is, if any!
Confirmed as been built by Boeing.

 

[Scotty1.7]

discovered its unmaned. I mean manned space flight. All thats left is the old russian soyz. Feel's like a massive step back.

 

[mix2000]

Yeah, I might make one in me shed. :lol:

 

[jacko]

first concorde, now the shuttle....everyones skint!

 

[spike.]

I must be getting old, remember the first launch (of the space shuttle, not concorde!)

 

[hotrodspike]

I remember seeing Enterprise on the top of the 747 flying from B'ham International following the M6 on it's way up to Manchester then back to USA. Sat on the roof at work for a couple of hours waiting to see it, bright sunny day got terrible sunburn, ouch!

SPACE, THE FINAL FRONTIER!

To Infinity and Beyond!!!!!!!!

 

[spike.]

wow, bet that was impressive...

bit of video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui-GL2aAUok" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not a landing to get wrong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYEZ_fquY44&feature=fvwrel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[hotrodspike]

Not as impressive as watching me climb onto an asbestos roof mate! They don't call me the cat for nothing, or at all!