STS 121 A 'Perfect' 4th of July Send Off

[2Nu]

It truly was a <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/fc/science/space_shuttle" target="blank">beautiful sight to behold</a>.

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After taking my 3 y/o son & 5 y/o daughter on their first ever flight yesterday (courtesy of fellow NWO'r Eeyore2) they were more than 'psyched' to see the shuttle launch.

Sadly though, there was NO broadcast network coverage of the launch (we viewed it on the NASA channel). Even the 'on site' viewing crowd amounted to just a handful of visibly 'older' bystanders.[V]

It wrankles me to no end that given the tragic setbacks to the shuttle program and the herculean efforts mounted by the NASA staffers to resume operations in the face of budgetary cutbacks, the utter lack of public interest in our premier civilian space agency whose various space and planetary exploration missions never ceases to amaze.

FYI: My <a href="http://www.nwoutpost.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5866 " target="blank">previous post</a> on the last shuttle mission offers pretty clear evidence of this.


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"Talking With People That Agree With You Is Like Jogging In A Cul-de-sac" - Bill Moyers

[egg-roger]

yeah, cool.



WOW, didja see that World Cup match?

AWESOME!!!!!!!






(Sorry, 2Nu, I couldn't resist.)

Seriously, I'm very pleased at the good launch and hope for a totally successful mission. The previous two shuttle trajedies were very much "JFK moments" for me - I will never forget where I was when those horrible events happened. Return safely Discovery.

[Jefe]

2NU, sounds like you need to plan a timely vacation to Florida. Since we live about 15 miles from the Cape, we are lucky enough to have live coverage of all shuttle launches & landings(& satellite rocket launches too). We watch the launch on TV for the 1st 10 seconds then run outside to watch the rest from our driveway!

But the best of all is an evening or nighttime launch. The flame shooting out of the rocket boosters lights up the sky in a breathtaking way. It will leave you awestruck.

[2Nu]

That will definitely be in my future travel plans Jefe.

I've had only one occasion to drive past the Kennedy Space Center, much less be witness to a launch.

Dare I suggest that it may even have become passe for you being so close to the facility?

Much like me having the Air France and British Concordes flying over my house everyday when I lived in Long Beach NY.

Indeed a Nighttime launch would be high on my list of things to see.

I was fortunate enough to witness a nighttime full afterburner departure of a Concorde at JFK many years ago (as close to a rocket as I've come to witness so far[8D])

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"Talking With People That Agree With You Is Like Jogging In A Cul-de-sac" - Bill Moyers

[Jefe]

You're right. When we moved here 6 years ago shuttle & rocket launches were a novelty. We eagerly awaited the next scheduled launch. The daily grind of work as well as the witnessing of several launches did kind of lead us to take the shuttle activity for granted. However, I think the loss of the 2nd orbiter reinforced how dangerous space flight can be. Now that launches are few & far between, we try to find the time to get the best view, because we never know if it will be the last.

[phillyidol]

So why doesn't the government or the military take over space projects?

[tiger_mn]

[quote][i]Originally posted by phillyidol[/i]
<br>So why doesn't the government or the military take over space projects?
[/quote]

Who says they haven't?

Phil, I would stop with this line of questioning. For your own good. [8D]

[Jefe]

Too late. I've heard they employ strippers & hot Asian babes as scouts to monitor for potential subversive activities. It seems they are already on to you![:0] Nothing to do now but drop your beer off at my house(not the pissy Mexican shit) & start a new life elsewhere.[:D]