Last Space Shuttle Mission
 

As the last shuttle is due to take off, it's pretty sad it's the last one.
The old shuttle was one hell of a piece of kit.
Good luck to all onboard and thanks for the last close to 30 years.

It's up - hasn't separated from the external tank yet.

An amazing 30 years when you think about it.

What will take its place? I can't imagine you guys not have a space program of some sort.

We have no operational replacement to put men into space any longer. There are things being worked on by some private industry projects but they have not started popping off maned flights yet.

We can still get automated payloads up with rockets but we can't do anything maned any longer and with the way money is these days - I don't see it happening soon. We're just too divided on everything else to get together and collaborate on this (from a governmental perspective). It's short-sighted and lame.

That's sad.

Yes, all went well.

Sad to see it go with no clear path forward. As a kid growing up the space program folks were my idols.

Unfortunately, we have become a nation more interested in lining the pockets of the bankers so they can spend it on hookers and blow instead of making history and advancing technology for all mankind to learn from.

Who needs a space program? We have wars to fund!

Besides, private, manned space flight will provide a whole new industry for Government to regulate and tax.

4 miles per second.

I don't believe I will see that again in my lifetime. Having lived in Florida 30 miles( as the crow flies) from the Cape since 1962 and seeing allot of rockets fired up.Can't wait for the next program if and when.

Supposedly around 2016-18 ... back to booster rocket w/ capsule, 4 man crew. Also not just for LEO - possible moon stuff in the future again?

I was hoping to see someone go to Mars in my life time. (I'm 46)

But Mars = trillions of dollars.

Yes, this is the end of the US manned space flight program for the foreseeable future. Very sad, RIP.

The Chinese flag will be flying on the moon within the next 10 years while we slave away to hand them the money to do it. Yay us!

How the mighty have fallen.

You haven't fallen yet. You'd be surprised at how quickly things can turn around.

It would be awesome for China to land on the moon and knock our flag over to plant their own.

Why?

Because the Space Race would be on again quicker than a politician could line up in front of the TV cameras demanding more money for NASA.

I saw the last launch of Discovery at the end of February and it's one of those things that does leave you astounded and speechless. Truly an experience like no other. I hate the thought the this program is ending without a real direction in place as to what's next. Is it the moon? Mars?

The space program to me will forever be a spark of innovation, pushing us as humans to achieve greater and greater things.

In some way I'm sad to see it come to an end, but I'm also happy too. The shuttle was our hauler for 30 years! That's an amazing life span. But, 30 years is a long time and technology has surpassed it by a quite a bit. It's now time for in with the new....

Of course that new won't come form the government. The corporations are now well into the game.

Spaceport America

It would appear that honest progress is being made with the port and infrastructure. I can only imagine that the space planes are not too far behind.

It's too bad Florida missed the boat on the idea of a space port.