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Shuttle Endeavour makes its final rounds — Parallax Forums

Shuttle Endeavour makes its final rounds

RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
edited 2012-11-02 12:07 in General Discussion
Some nice photos of the space shuttle Endeavour on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft #1 (Ellington Field, near Houston), at Ars Technica.com

If you view the next to last photo at full resolution, look to the left of the door to see all of the over 200 ferry flights the SC #1 has made - pretty cool.

Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-09-21 08:48
    I work one mile from LAX. Fantastic view of the full length of the runway from the roof. Shuttle lands ~12:45. It's going to be quite a party environment. Everyone's gonna be there.

    Except me. Important 12:20 doctor's appointment. :(

    Oh well, I saw several launches in Florida when I lived in WPB.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2012-09-21 09:57
    Awesome! My wife and daughter just watched it loop around her Dad's house which is nearby McClellan AFB.
  • Matt GillilandMatt Gilliland Posts: 1,406
    edited 2012-09-21 10:24
    Awesome! My wife and daughter just watched it loop around her Dad's house which is nearby McClellan AFB.
    Dang. Too far off. Missed it!
    -MattG
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2012-09-21 10:42
    ...just watched the Moffet Field flyover via NASA Ames web-feed.

    Beautiful - stunning!

    The camera operators need some instruction for future events though.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-09-21 10:49
    davejames wrote: »

    The camera operators need some instruction for future events though.

    Sadly, there probably won't be any future events of this nature.:depressed:
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2012-09-21 11:05
    Here's one of the shots that my wife was able to grab. Guessing that the shuttle is approximately 3/4 of a mile from her.
    Shuttle_IMG_1419.jpg
    1024 x 683 - 45K
  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    edited 2012-09-21 11:07
    I'll miss it. I got so used to watching it land at Edwards AFB, I took it for granted we'd always have a space program. Now I don't think I'll ever see anything like again.
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2012-09-21 11:09
    WBA Consulting wrote: »
    Here's one of the shots that my wife was able to grab.

    Oh man! Thank you - great shot!!!
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2012-09-21 13:11
    End of an era! sad very sad bit like watching the last flight of Concorde.

    At least I managed whilst on holiday in Florida years ago to see a shuttle launch, what an experience I shall never forget it.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-09-21 14:19
    erco wrote: »
    I work one mile from LAX. Fantastic view of the full length of the runway from the roof. Shuttle lands ~12:45. It's going to be quite a party environment. Everyone's gonna be there.

    Except me. Important 12:20 doctor's appointment. :(

    Oh well, I saw several launches in Florida when I lived in WPB.

    Turns out I did see it LIVE from my doctor's office. They had a nice big HDTV with beautiful nonstop local news coverage, announcing exactly where it was. The office had a ridiculous all-glass wall in the waiting room (sounds too good to be true) and I looked up from the TV and there she was, about a mile away. Perfect vantage point, about 15 minutes before landing at LAX. I pointed it out and everybody (both doctors and patients, even one in a rather compromising hospital gown) came running and cheered. Woo Hoo!
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,664
    edited 2012-09-21 14:31
    I had the binoculars out and ready, but missed it. Dang. A crunch at work kept me inside. A person passed by my office who was crossing the Golden Gate Bridge when it flew over, and he related to how there was quite a traffic tie-up and crowds of people on the walkway.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2012-09-22 09:25
    The shuttles were very expensive, definitely had some problems, and never fully lived up to their promise, but I sure was proud of them and all the people that made them go.

    End of an era indeed.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-09-22 09:35
    Back in ~1985, a shuttle landed here in California. We worked in a 6-story tower then. A group of us space nuts went outside to hear the sonic boom. We were out there 20 minutes early, stayed an hour, never heard anything. Went back inside and into the elevator, and of course the boom happened just then. We never heard it, but everyone else inside the building did. Secretaries, janitors, everyone!

    DOH!!!!
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2012-09-22 16:36
    where will it's final resting place be, Kennedy space centre? It would be great if you were allowed to enter inside and take a look
  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    edited 2012-09-22 19:37
    The Endeavor will reside at Los Angeles at one of the air and space museums.

    What irks me is that NYC gets Enterprise. That city had zilch to do with aerospace and the shuttle.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-09-30 20:26
    Nice video from the chase plane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVPNDhOWutk
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-11-02 12:07
    http://news.yahoo.com/nasas-last-space-shuttle-heading-florida-retirement-home-182720977.html

    NASA's last space shuttle heading to Florida retirement home

    Atlantis' final miles are curiously devoid of all the pageantry of Endeavor's glitzy media-blitzy grand entrance into Los Angeles. Come on, NASA: sell the sizzle, not the steak!
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