Watch the LAST EVER Space Shuttle Launch in HD here

[Superphil]

They're all getting very excited about it, all systems seem to be GO

 

[Yoda]

T - 9 minutes

 

[Gazwag]

31 seconds and its stopped

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Here we go .....

 

[Spun Cuppa]

1 000 000 horsepower in full effect...

Quality...

 

[pishhead]

Wow, just wow.

 

[Gazwag]

Can't believe that's the last one

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Why did they stop at 31 secs, did one of the astros need a pee ?

 

[Normal Rob]

a considerably better result than the last time i watched one launch. Awesome to see.

 

[Albumen]

Missed it.
Have I missed something? Why is it the last one?

 

[Superphil]

I'm sure I saw a bit of debris fly off at about 4 1/2 minutes

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I'm sure I saw a bit of debris fly off at about 4 1/2 minutes

That was the earth !!

 

[Yoda]

 

[Laridae]

That was simply amazing!!

Kinda emotional, too.

 

[dingodan]

Columbia Endeavor [for the] Discovery [of] Atlantis...

Interesting eh?

 

[Man of Harveys]

Columbia Endeavor [for the] Discovery [of] Atlantis...

Interesting eh?

Nope

 

[strings]

Missed it.
Have I missed something? Why is it the last one?

The shuttle programme was cancelled a few years back by 'Dubya' Bust, primarily on safety grounds - the shuttle programme started in 1981, so the design is a good 35 years old. At the same time, George W. Bush announced a new manned space programme that would succeed the Shuttles. This new programme went back to 'Apollo' style non-reusable spacecraft. This new programme was then cut by Obama, largely because it was so expensive. There were also question marks about the point in the new programme - it may have been that Bush only launched it so he was not remembered as the man that cut the space programme.

As it stands, I don't think America has any concrete plans to lauch manned space flights in future.

 

[Albumen]

The shuttle programme was cancelled a few years back by 'Dubya' Bust, primarily on safety grounds - the shuttle programme started in 1981, so the design is a good 35 years old. At the same time, George W. Bush announced a new manned space programme that would succeed the Shuttles. This new programme went back to 'Apollo' style non-reusable spacecraft. This new programme was then cut by Obama, largely because it was so expensive. There were also question marks about the point in the new programme - it may have been that Bush only launched it so he was not remembered as the man that cut the space programme.

As it stands, I don't think America has any concrete plans to lauch manned space flights in future.

Many thanks.

 

[beardy gull]

Twitter

Some interesting stats here....

 

[clippedgull]

Why did they stop at 31 secs, did one of the astros need a pee ?

The 'beanie cap'. The bit that comes off the top of the external tank and retracts from the shuttle was showing that it had not retracted the correct distance. Camera 062 was used to prove the computer had given a false alarm and the countdown was started from T-31 seconds. After T-31 seconds the onboard computers have full control, and only they can stop lift off. Human intervention cannot take place until launch as the human reaction time would be too slow.