Watch the LAST EVER Space Shuttle Launch in HD here

[Northstander]

If you want a rocket...check this bad boy out!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uoVfZpx5dY&feature=player_embedded#at=10

 

[adrian29uk]

Shuttle re-entry is Thursday 21st.

Start watching from around 7am onwards GMT via
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ustream.html

If you have Google Earth two interesting things to look at

The launch path
http://etouch.cust.footprint.net/LiveSpaceShuttle.kmzhttp://www.nasa.gov/567335main_STS_135_Ascent_Replay.kmz

And a live Ground track file
http://etouch.cust.footprint.net/LiveSpaceShuttle.kmz

 

[adrian29uk]

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.

Private companies will be taking supplies to the space station, I thinl. The Russian Soyuz will continue transporting people to the Space station.