Goodbye NASA

[Steven Biehler]

Today the last shuttle mission launched at Kennedy Space Center. I am so sad there will be no more shuttle launches. I have always loved NASA and am sad they are basically shutting down. No more Shuttle program. (i am not sure about all the stuff that is happening with NASA's budget being cut, and I know that the USA needs to put its money elsewhere. We had a program that was going to have a moon base by 2014 and a MARS BASE BY 2020! Sadly it was all cut. oh well, I have and always will love space exploration. I just wish that their budget was not basically cut to the point where they only have the money to hire a janitor to keep the launch pad clean.
Movie Bob did an episode on this also
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/the-big-picture/2482-Once-Upon-a-Time-in-The-Future
sorry, I don't know how to embed videos.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Hmmm. Low post count and no link.

Someone care to back this up for those too lazy or disinterested to do it themselves?

 

[ADeskofRichMahogany]

When I was in elementary school, the field trip that everyone looked forward to was the visit to Cape Canaveral and NASA. Three days to visit museums, make and launch rockets, and participate in a simulated lunar landing. It was A-MAY-ZAAAH!!

Now what do those kids have to look forward to? So sad, so sad...

 

[PeePantz]

For some reason I feel this is appropriate: OT: This does indeed blow. Hello privatization.

EDIT: Link for guy who wants it. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/08/atlantis-blasts-off-on-final-flight-for-space-shuttle-program/

 

[Zac Smith]

From what I have heard, they are simply retire the current shuttle they are using which is about 30 years old, and are going to develop a new one

 

[aba1]

I'm gonig to take this opportunity to troll

well at least you still got all that money for your army

 

[Matt Oliver]

NASA has done a great deal of good to help us learn about the universe and I am disappointed that it will be gone. We do need the $ elsewhere atm its a sad fact but its true.

 

[DigitalSushi]

Hmmm. Low post count and no link.

Someone care to back this up for those too lazy or disinterested to do it themselves?

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/how-to-enter-space-after-nasas-last-shuttle-flight-50004360/

Its NASA's last Shuttle, that's Shuttle, not space flight.

 

[Drago-Morph]

Wait. Wait wait wait. They're shutting down NASA?

Fucking NASA?

I'm sorry, but that's just stupid. NASA is the only thing keeping America ahead of the curve technology wise. If they cut out all of NASA, then Japan takes over completely as the world's strongest technological innovator.

Unless they're only shutting down the space program side of NASA, which (if this is the case) apparently a good amount of people need to understand is not all of NASA.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

They're retiring the shuttle fleet and going to introduce a replacement in the next few years. Unfortunately they ditched the original plan for the Orion capsule, and are going with a little smaller version. Here's what we got to look forwards to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-Purpose_Crew_Vehicle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Launch_System

 

[Dr_Horrible]

As much unconditional love as I have for NASA and its space program (SPAAAAACE), I have to admit that the future of space travel is in the private sector, and funded by corporations. Just look at Virgin Galactic, which has already put (relatively) small-scale projects in orbit for a fraction of the time and money NASA would take.

Still, it's a real shame to see the project disappear.

 

[SoopaSte123]

I've never known how to feel about this issue. On the one hand, shuttle launches are a cool idea and continuing it will help push for better technology so that one day we may be able to sustain our species in places other than earth. On the other hand, shuttle launches are incredibly expensive and we can send robots that do better jobs than humans can currently do exploring space and scanning planets and such.

So as much as I'd like to think shuttle launches are slowly leading to a star trek-esque path for humanity, I think I'm slightly on the "spend less money, build robots that do a better job anyway" side of the fence.

 

[johnzaku]

I shall miss you NASA ToT

I'm sure they're still going to do stuff like probes and satellites, but yeah, no men on Mars. No more moon missions. No more space station stays.

We gotta get off this rock eventually >->

 

[aakibar]

I'm sad that people continue to write of NASA as an expensive hobby.

I agree with this i get so annoyed when people comment on news blogs that nasa is a piece of shit bla bla bla. I feel like there needs to be a new inspiration to get people to go to space cuz at this point we are concerned about whats going on here.

 

[RamirezDoEverything]

"SPACE IS A USELESS VENTURE"

I hate people so much, if we kept funding the shit out of NASA after we hit the moon, we could be terraforming Mars now.

 

[Fappy]

Hmmm. Low post count and no link.

Someone care to back this up for those too lazy or disinterested to do it themselves?

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/how-to-enter-space-after-nasas-last-shuttle-flight-50004360/

Its NASA's last Shuttle, that's Shuttle, not space flight.

It's still sad

My friend actually got to see it in person. He said it was "awe inspiring". >.>

 

[Duffeknol]

It's funny to see the space shuttle blasting off. And with it, the last shred of worth the United States had to offer.

 

[Quaxar]

Yeah, sure. Because all NASA does is sending shuttles into orbit...

They are developing a new vessel that will be ready in a few years and until then why not use the Russian capsules. Quite frankly, the Space Shuttles were outdated over a decade ago. You know how expensive one flight is compared to a regular rocket?

Also, it seems like you don't care at all about space exploration. Fuck Mars bases. Mars is a dead and deadly rock and one day someone might go there, but that really isn't an important goal at all.
Space exploration is still getting done and that's what counts.