Space Shuttle

RichM · Jun 9, 2007

I am home for a few days and today my wife and I drove to Titusville FL to watch the launch of the Atlantis space shuttle.It is truly a humbling and inspiring experience. To see the shuttle lift off knowing that it was American Engineering that did it makes you proud of this Country.

One interesting thing is that when the lift off commenced there was nothing but applause and cheering from many different nationalities. Where we were standing there was at least 4 different languages being spoken but they all cheered for the success of the mission.

OntarioVanMan · Jun 9, 2007

I am quite sure it is a awesome sight. But I'd beg to differ on "American Technology" I's say maybe U.S. dollars? The arm so named "Canada Arm" was designed in Canada. Thats that huge arm that grabs satilites...and I am quite sure theres prolly more parts not of American engineering. Not to take away from the moment..you could say it was "American Design' that put all the pieces together.

Iam trying to imagine the feeling of all that power and massiveness....the achievement alone to get that off the ground!!!WoW

mrgoodtude · Jun 9, 2007

The 1st time I saw one go up was by accident at probably 1 am in the morning, I was going home to Orlando from Titusville on the 95 when the ground shook and my whole universe filled with light.
I pulled over on the interstate ready to do some fast repenting and what I saw took my breath away.
It is a great sight to see during the day but at night WOW.

OntarioVanMan · Jun 9, 2007

I just gotta get down there some day!!!!!

RichM · Jun 9, 2007

OVM don't take this the wrong way but the Candian Space Arm was designed and built by Canadians, then installed on the space lab not the shuttle.

If you are ever laying over in Huntsville AL take the tour of the Space Center. Is is right off I 565. They have an exhibit of the space lab and I believe about 50-60 nations contributed to the project.

OntarioVanMan · Jun 9, 2007

I never take things the wrong way...like water off a duck..lifes too short to sweat the small stuff...*lol*

Did alittle research:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS), or Canadarm (Canadarm 1), is a mechanical arm used on the Space Shuttle to maneuver a payload from the payload bay of the orbiter to its deployment position and then release it. It can also grapple a free-flying payload, maneuver it to the payload bay of the orbiter and berth it in the orbiter. It was first used on the second Space Shuttle mission STS-2, launched November 13, 1981. Since the destruction of Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-107, NASA has outfitted the SRMS with the Orbiter Boom Sensor System, a boom containing instruments to inspect the exterior of the shuttle for damage to the thermal protection system. It is expected the SRMS will play this role in all future shuttle missions.

I'll have to check that out too......Thanx

Jayman · Jun 9, 2007

Ok...Canada can be on the team too! :7

greg334 · Jun 9, 2007

OVM,
I think that you may be wrong.

According to the Russians, the arm was invented during the Stalin era some time after the war and used to pick up vodka bottles from the street. It happened that the bad capitalist stole the design of the arm and claimed it as a Canadian design.

Sorry for that, yes you are right and if I am not mistaken a bunch of parts were designed and made in Canada.

I only wish they would clean up NASA, cut the overpaid lunitic people out of the system, stop worrying about stupid things and build a space vehicle that can be launched and return in any weather. I mean it took us only 8 years to land a man on the moon but it has taken us 24 years to finally start working on replacing the space shuttle and that won't be ready for another 8 years.

As for the launch, it is still the only vehicle of that weight that can accelerate at a tremendous speed, utterly amazing to watch.

OntarioVanMan · Jun 9, 2007

Greg...haha ya almost got me looking the other way!;-)

davekc · Jun 10, 2007

Our favorite has been to go out on our balcony and watch the launch at night. Truely spectacular as it lights up the whole ocean orange.
And, that is looking from Flagler Beach which is a little distance from the Cape. It still is pretty awesome.
Rich, if you like rock shrimp, stop and visit Dixie Crossroads. Kinda of a neat place with a garden park to walk through in the back.

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