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Air Traffic Monitoring => Listener Forum => Topic started by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 11:24:36 AM

Title: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 11:24:36 AM
I have been watching this live all week.  Quite an interesting site.
Shuttle mission is live and also the ISS

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-hd-tv

Dan
 
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 11:41:47 AM
18 minutes from touchdown...over Mexico traveling at 13,000 miles per hour!  8-)
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 11:44:14 AM
...passing Cuba now...8,000 miles per hour...
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 11:44:56 AM
faaaaaaaaaaaaster than a Cessna!!!
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 11:49:43 AM
Over Florida now...
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 11:51:03 AM
AWESOME AWESOME!!!
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 11:53:39 AM
Descending at 286 ft per second at 654 miles per hour...
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 11:55:26 AM
Cleared left base visual,
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 11:58:04 AM
And we have touchdown....beautiful!!!!
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 11:58:37 AM
Wheels Stop for the final time! Welcome home Discovery, and thank you!
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 12:02:24 PM
Thanks for the link Dan! That was completely awesome, and sad at the same time...  8-)  :cry:
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 12:14:42 PM
No problem Joey.  I should have posted sooner.  I got a new monitor at work so I was watching most of the mission including the docking with the ISS, etc.  Definitely a link to keep as they do broadcast live from the ISS as well.

Dan
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 12:17:19 PM
So correct me if I'm wrong, but there are only two more shuttle fights remaining, one for the Atlantis, and one for the Endeavour, bringing the total to 135 missions for the Shuttle Program.
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 12:29:05 PM
What they have been saying all week is a max of 2 but a guarantee of 1 more.  I'm not sure what they will be replacing the shuttle with, perhaps to long awaited 787 LOL.

Since they are having lots of success, I would guess the other shuttles have less flights than the discovery so are probably good for more space travel, but I guess the $$$$ is a factor.

Dan
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: alltheway on March 09, 2011, 02:20:11 PM
but I guess the $$$$ is a factor.

For sure the Soyuz is twice as 1/2 the price of 1 spaceshuttle launch, so even the Ariana (French) is not this expensive.....  We'll see, there are unmanned mini shuttles around.. :mrgreen:
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 02:22:51 PM
It's a good thing there are other avenues to get to space and keep the ISS going.  It will be interesting to watch if the US will want to depend on others or not.

Dan
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 02:49:19 PM
The only two shuttles left in active service is the Atlantis, and the Endeavour. The Endeavour made her first flight May 7, 1992. The Atlantis, on the other hand, made her first flight October 3, 1985, So she is significantly older then the Endeavour. The Enterprise was retired and is now at the Hazy center, just outside Washington D.C., and the Columbia and Challenger were lost. So out of six, two remain in service, the youngest two of the fleet. Below is a breakdown of the shuttle fleet:

Enterprise; Built in 1977, she never actually flew in space.

Columbia; First flight was April 12, 1981. She spent over 300 days in space. She was lost February 1, 2003, when she broke up on re-entry.

Challenger; First flight was April 4, 1983. She spent just over 62 days in space. She was lost January 28, 1986, at just three years old, during the launch process.

Discovery; First flight was August 30, 1984. She spent over a year in space all together. She retired today after 27 years of service.

Atlantis; First flight was October 3, 1985. She has spent over 293 days in space thus far. She is slated at this time to make the final shuttle flight this summer.

Endeavour; First flight was May 7, 1992. She has spent over 280 days in space thus far. The youngest ship in the fleet, she is slated to make the second to last shuttle flight this spring.
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 03:05:27 PM
Great breakdown Joey.  Thanks.

Dan
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 03:20:43 PM
Great breakdown Joey.  Thanks.

Dan

No problem!  8-)

Press conference with the crew of STS 133 will be held around 18:30 Eastern time. For anyone who wants to tune in, here is the website again:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-hd-tv
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 09, 2011, 03:28:43 PM
STS-133 highlight reel playing now 15:27EST
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 09, 2011, 05:25:21 PM
She's at the hanger now...her career officially over.
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: alltheway on March 10, 2011, 04:57:39 AM
 8-) it's good to see all went well with this flight, in the statement after landing he said that not a single system failure occurred, so they can use the instruments as spare parts.

I would have expected that the crew went around, instead of returning to earth. They could have taken the courage to park this shuttle on the moon and be hero's for ever as the first men (and woman) on the moon, since no one else ever been there...

That in my opinion would be a wish come true.
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: bjen9337 on March 10, 2011, 01:13:14 PM
Does anyone know why the shuttles are referred to as "she's"?
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: alltheway on March 10, 2011, 02:02:54 PM
Does anyone know why the shuttles are referred to as "she's"?

have you seen the Fat rear end of her? That's why boats, airplanes and shuttles are she's.....

I want to know what happened to that android, is it a he or a she? I need it back hmmmmm
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: bjen9337 on March 10, 2011, 02:53:26 PM
Thar she blows!  :evil:
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 10, 2011, 07:33:55 PM
Does anyone know why the shuttles are referred to as "she's"?

Pretty much any vehicle or vessel is usually considered to be female. It goes back a long way in history to the days when ships were the ideal mode of transportation. Traditionally, most ships were named after, or in honor of a female. Commonly the wife/daughter/mother of the boats owner or captain, or a female in power (I.E. Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth).

"Steady as she goes!"

"The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay had they put fifteen more miles behind her." Lyrics from Grodon Lightfoot, about a ship with a male name, the "Edmund Fitzgerald".

...all the way up to "I'm givin' it all she's got, Captain!" (Add heavy Scottish accent, if you like... :wink:)

Below are just a few examples of famous ships with female names:

#1: Steamer "Empress Of Britain"

#2: Steamer "Queen Mary"

#3: Lake Freighter "Courtney Burton", sister ship to the "Edmound Fitzgerald". Oddly enough, most lake ships are given male names, or named after landmarks or cities along the lakes. Few actually have female names, but all are called "her".  8-)

#4: Fishing Vessel "Andrea Gail", lost in the Atlantic during "The Perfect Storm" (yes, that's a true story).


Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: alltheway on March 10, 2011, 07:47:24 PM
 8-) That goes for the English world, but in the Netherlands for example everything is "he"  

he doesn't start (car) It's the fatherland vs Mothercountry, ect....

This is why they drive the wrong side of the road in the Uk, Australia, Japan, and numerous other counties...

Example:

Wive: "The car won't start"
Husband: "He won't start? Well let's take a look at her"
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: joeyb747 on March 10, 2011, 08:56:42 PM
World War Two saw a lot of aircraft with female names or references to females..."Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby", "Lady Luck", "Pretty Polly", "Playmate", "Diamond Lil", "D-Day Doll", "Slick Chick", and "Blonde Bomber" to name a few. Most of the nose art that went along with those names is not appropriate to post here, but below are a few examples of nose art and names that are appropriate to post.  8-)

#1: Probably the most famous one, B-17F "Memphis Belle".

#2: This beautiful bird resides at KYIP, owned by the "Yankee Air Force", B-17G "Yankee Lady".

#3: B-17G "Sentimental Journey" is owned by the "Commemorative Air Force".

#4: B-25J "Show Me", owned by "Commemorative Air Force".

I hope this helps...I know it's a long answer to a short question...but in a very round-about way, that is why the space shuttle is called "her".  :-D

Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: Dan CZQM on March 14, 2011, 12:22:39 PM
An interesting twist the the thread.  Keep the examples coming.

Dan
Title: Re: SPACE SHUTTLE COMING IN FOR A LANDING (03/09/2011)
Post by: alltheway on March 14, 2011, 04:35:03 PM
I liked this one from the link below: "Because you spend all your money on them, you love their company, and they are high maintence, and will kill you if you cross "her" :lol:"


http://www.answerspice.com/c103/220171/why-is-ships-cars-planes-a-she


And they can have babies.... (attached)