God's Speed - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/09/2007 01:02:49 AM · #26

Love that the love for the program is shared by so many. I'm a navy brat and my dad instilled a sense of awe in me that is well deserved for the astronauts. Deb, I would love to have worked so close, I'm still waiting for my chance to get really close to them.

Edit: As much as I respect them, its not the people who impress me most about the space program; its the idea itself.
To boldly go....

Its exploration and new horizons. Its that drive, that only a few have - to risk life and limb to see what is around the next bend.
Where are we and where are we going?
Those are big questions and it has taken a nation who shared the vision, built the machines, planed the progress, took the chance, to begin to form an answer. Decades of dreaming went into what we watched today and nothing short of imagination and hope could have gotten us this far.

Here's to dreamers.

Message edited by author 2007-06-09 01:46:04.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

06/09/2007 01:40:12 AM · #27

To clarify, I never did get anywhere near the astronauts personally - the work we did was with the hardware, and the programs I worked weren't shuttle-related. Still, we used to joke about getting T-shirts that said "But I am a rocket scientist!" :-)

Elvis_L

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/09/2007 01:44:01 AM · #28

While i was in the Air Force I had to fix the raido, IFF and ILS on the plane that the shuttle was on top of. (at Eglin AFB) that thing is freaking huge!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/09/2007 01:44:47 AM · #29

So, the Shuttle program officially dies in 2011, and a new program is due to come into service 5 years later. The gap, obviously is an issue for the members the space station program and most especially to the servicemen who are aboard the station. Will the station be abandoned, ala Skylab? or will some other means keep it active until NASA is ready for the next step?

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

06/09/2007 02:17:48 AM · #30

Last night just before sunset I watched a Delta II rocket launch from Vandenburg AFB to put a satellite in orbit. The sun was still up, so wasn't super visible, but here's a photo I took of a similar launch at sunset last year.

Those things really move fast!

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

06/09/2007 09:03:57 AM · #31

Ooooooh that's cool, Marc. Never watched one of those launch.

Claya

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

06/09/2007 09:27:06 AM · #32

Cindy (et all),

About 20 years ago I arranged a spring break vacation around a shuttle launch so I could photography it. On the last day of my vacation before having to drive back to Texas I got a prime spot just across the channel from launch site WAY before the dawn launch and sat in the cold (well cold for Florida) with tripod and my longest lens for hours waiting. At 14 seconds, literally the last second that is possible, the computer system automatically shut down the entire launch because some sensor reading was just outside the normal range. Packed up my gear and spent 20 hours driving home VERY bummed!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/09/2007 09:30:27 AM · #33

Originally posted by Claya:

Bummed, I'm sure! That would suck and I would be amazingly disappointed too. That's one reason I haven't attended one live yet, you never know if it will launch on time or not. That said, though, the shuttle program ending soon will motivate me to try to catch a live launch while there is still time.

Hey! Maybe we should set a GTG for the next launch date. :)

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

06/09/2007 09:45:38 AM · #34

Originally posted by idnic:

For a number of reasons, they should decommission the space station. Assuming they don't, I imagine Russia will do the heavy lifting if we have no shuttles going up.

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

06/09/2007 01:13:54 PM · #35

Originally posted by dahved:

Originally posted by robinssong:
Those are really nice.

This one is from my back yard. Kind of pathetic... You can just make out the separation. Do you guys get the sonic boom that rattles your home? My dogs always start barking. :)
I will never tire of seeing these launches. Its kind of emotional... and amazing!

Do you mean the boom when it returns? I've never heard of a boom being heard on the launch.

I've always marveled at the people who took these photos of a sonic boom. They must be the coolest photos I've ever seen.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/09/2007 06:15:14 PM · #36

Originally posted by MrEd:

I've always marveled at the people who took photos of a sonic boom. They must be the coolest photos I've ever seen.

not to go off-topic, but here's one for ya...

---------

ditto the 'boldly go'...it's our manifest destiny...

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/21/2007 10:01:01 AM · #37

Weather permitting, they shuttle will land in about 3 hours.... unfortunately, we're expecting storms. Stay tuned. :)

SamDoe1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

06/21/2007 10:08:43 AM · #38

Originally posted by idnic:

Hey! Maybe we should set a GTG for the next launch date. :)

I'd be very tempted to come for that one. It's always been a dream to see the shuttle launch. Those rockets are probably one of the most awesome (man made) power on earth.

Delta_6

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/21/2007 10:19:49 AM · #39

Originally posted by routerguy666:

Originally posted by idnic:
So, the Shuttle program officially dies in 2011, and a new program is due to come into service 5 years later. The gap, obviously is an issue for the members the space station program and most especially to the servicemen who are aboard the station. Will the station be abandoned, ala Skylab? or will some other means keep it active until NASA is ready for the next step?

For a number of reasons, they should decommission the space station. Assuming they don't, I imagine Russia will do the heavy lifting if we have no shuttles going up.

I think the Russian craft would be used, as they were after Columbia.

06/21/2007 11:54:57 AM · #40

1st landing opportunity was just scrubbed so no touch down at 1:55. Next chance is in the 3:00 hour.

FireBird

06/21/2007 12:02:25 PM · #41

Originally posted by idnic:

Well, they do call it the "international" space station.
Maybe some partners will be able to step up by then. Shame to see the US give up on the Space Race. Humans have to migrate permanently into space or become extinct. Of course China or India may become space faring countries and carry on the species.