Space Shuttle is in orbit

[baygirl_1]

i loved it! we were down there for one launch several years ago. it is such a beautiful sight and you can actually feel it! my sister was here watching the launch with us this morning and she told me that we actually saw 2 apollo launches: one while we were on vacation on the west coast of florida and another one that my parents took us to see. unfortunately, i was just a baby for both so i don't remember them at all. i didn't even know until she told me today! explains my affinity for space science.

[Ixolib]

Maybe they will get a chance to see a Hurricane while they are up there. I have not been following the Pacific so I don't know if there is any action over there, but some of the views and pictures they get when there is a hurricane spinning, are absolutely incredible. Anyone remember the shot of Hurricane Elena back in 1985? Wish I had the link. It was a breathtaking view of the storm.

Elena from Space...

[beachbum_al]

I am so glad that everything went okay. I love the pics that everyone shared.

[Pebbles]

Had to share this from the Off Topic NASA Thread. They have just woken up the men and women on board the shuttle and this is what they found out....

HAHAHAHAHA We send 7 men and women all the way into space only to find out the printer is broken on the space shuttle AHAHAHAHAHA *wipes tears away*

They trying to fix it so they can get the flight plan for the day printed *giggles more*

What is it with Printers!?? Sorry.. but it just really tickled my funny bone!

[Hurricaneman]

I hope for some great pics from the shuttle

[Pebbles]

GRRR Looks like the space shuttle program will be put on hold again once Discovery comes back. Seems they are still having issues with the foam coming off. Very disappointing press conference going on right now.. Can watch it live on NASA TV on the Internet.

Ongoing discussion about this is going on in the Off Topic Forum

[cinlfla]

GRRR Looks like the space shuttle program will be put on hold again once Discovery comes back. Seems they are still having issues with the foam coming off. Very disappointing press conference going on right now.. Can watch it live on NASA TV on the Internet.

Yes Pebbles, I just watched on my local channel 9 news. I agree it is very disapointing.

[HurryKane]

The missing chunk (photo credit: AP/NASA)

[HurryKane]

i wish i was up there in space ..its always been my dream to go into space..i want to major in astronomy..hopefully one day i will be up there..hey im only 16..you never know..

Here's NASA's current requirements for astronaut pilots, mission specialists, and payload specialists. Astronomy might not be the best of the physical science majors to get you into space (but it's still a fascinating major):

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudent ... ments.html

Astronaut biographies which include their educational background can be found here: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html

Here's the current candidate astronaut bios: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/ascanbio.html
All of this is from the page Astronaut Biographies home page http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/index.html

Good luck in your future in space

[mike18xx]

I agree it is very disapointing.

I'm not disappointed at all.

Go Burt Rutan!

[EDR1222]

GRRR Looks like the space shuttle program will be put on hold again once Discovery comes back. Seems they are still having issues with the foam coming off. Very disappointing press conference going on right now.. Can watch it live on NASA TV on the Internet.

Yes Pebbles, I just watched on my local channel 9 news. I agree it is very disapointing.

Ditto However, they have to make things as safe as possible. I am sure they will come with a solution to the problem.

[Hurricaneman]

[EDR1222]

Maybe they will get a chance to see a Hurricane while they are up there. I have not been following the Pacific so I don't know if there is any action over there, but some of the views and pictures they get when there is a hurricane spinning, are absolutely incredible. Anyone remember the shot of Hurricane Elena back in 1985? Wish I had the link. It was a breathtaking view of the storm.

Elena from Space...

Thanks for posting Ixolib!

[Hurricaneman]

Great pic

[Pebbles]

For any that missed the news briefing earlier they are about to replay it on Nasa TV http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

[Canelaw99]

I was one of the forunate ones to be at KSC, on the lagoon, to watch the launch and it was incredible. I wish I had a camera with a good zoom though so the pics were better I, too, am disappointed with the current grounding of the fleet, but I believe NASA will get the problem rectified soon.