News Discovery to fly over Washington DC

[agentgonzo]

Discovery will perform a set of low altitude flybys of Washington DC, USA on the back of the SCA.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/nasa-shuttle-discovery-set-buzz-washington-dc

 

[Mojave]

She still can be seen in the air. Piggy backing, but in the air.

 

[Donamy]

Like a bird with it's wings clipped.:thumbsdown:

 

[Xyon]

Like a bird with it's wings clipped.:thumbsdown:

Exactly that. It sounds to me like a healthy bird carrying a dead one for one last victory lap before the end.

At least she's going to the sky one last time, but not to space where she belongs.

 

[mojoey]

Exactly that. It sounds to me like a healthy bird carrying a dead one for one last victory lap before the end.

At least she's going to the sky one last time, but not to space where she belongs.

I wish they would let her fly on her own, at least do an unpowered landing at Andrews before locking her away in a museum...

 

[Alfastar]

She is now a swan who sings hear last song

 

[insanity]

I'm going to take some time off of work to watch the flyby next week. My office is close to the mall, so I'll head over that way and hopefully get to catch a glimpse, sad as it may be.

 

[NovaSilisko]

Like a bird with it's wings clipped.:thumbsdown:

I can't help but agree to some respect - but we needed to move on. Although, I wish that they had kept the shuttles flying until a new vehicle could be developed...

 

[Cras]

It is always tough to let go. Especially saying good bye to something like the Space Shuttle. We have been watching her fly for so long now. Most on this board I would bet (myself included) have never known a time when she didn't fly until now.

But you are right NovaSilisko. It is time to move on. She did her mission. She flew the good flight. Now it is time to move beyond Earth orbit, and truly reach for the stars, and walk on distance worlds.

Some would say STS didn't live up to its full potential, and they are probably right, but she still was remarkable, both in her function and what she represented. It was a new way of thinking, it was a new way to go to and return from space. But now that is not enough. We need a new place to go, and that place the Shuttle cannot take us.

So as we watch our beloved orbiters leave their home in KSC and take up their final places in various museums across the country, let us remember when she flew, what she accomplished, the crews that flew, the crews we lost, and never think that just because the Shuttle has to stop flying in space, that NASA has to stop as well.

The next chapter now finally begins. Let us hope that the SLS proves to be a worthy successor.

 

[Scav]

(...something TOTALLY beautiful.)

Couldn't have said it better, myself.

 

[Codz]

It certainly is always sad to see a great aircraft retired, but at this point it was holding us back. It's time to move on to bigger and bolder things.

 

[Donamy]

... It's time to move on to bigger and bolder things.

Wanna bet ? :dry:

 

[NovaSilisko]

Wanna bet ? :dry:

You say that like the shuttle could take us to the moon or mars... :x

Even then, political will for all forms of space travel is dwindling - even just to orbit. It's not the fault of any specific vehicle or system.

 

[ky]

The best post ever!

I totally agree, no one could have said it better.

 

[Codz]

Wanna bet ? :dry:

How exactly has the shuttle been bold in the last 15 years?

 

[Donamy]

No, my comment was about the future of manned spaceflight. Doesn't look very promising to me.

 

[Yoda]

My sentiments exactly; when NASA retired the shuttle it also retired US Human Space Flight for a long time to come.
I'll be shocked if within the next 5 years we'll see an american made manned space craft actually lift off !

Shouldn't have retired the shuttle before we had something else to take it's place !
Very dumb ( and costly) move to have to rely on russian piggyback rides to a station we mostly financed and build !

 

[IronRain]

NASA 905 has arrived at KSC to pickup Discovery

 

[orb]

NASA:

• MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-062 - Space Shuttle Discovery to Fly Over Washington Metro Area April 17:

  WASHINGTON -- NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) with space shuttle Discovery mounted atop will fly approximately 1,500 feet above various parts of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area on Tuesday, April 17.
  
  The flight, in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, is scheduled to occur between 10 and 11 a.m. EDT. NASA Television and the agency's web site will provide live coverage.
  
  The exact route and timing of the flight depend on weather and operational constraints. However, the aircraft is expected to fly near a variety of landmarks in the metropolitan area, including the National Mall, Reagan National Airport, National Harbor and the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center. When the flyover is complete, the SCA will land at Dulles International Airport.
  
  {...}

• World's Greatest Piggyback Ride

Florida Today:

• NASA offers tour of Discovery's 747 ride
  
  
• Discovery's carrier aircraft arrives at Kennedy Space Center
  
  
• Discovery to fly over DC landmarks

Spaceflight Now:

• Discovery's ride arrives
  
  
• Discovery's ride arrives (PHOTO GALLERY)

NASASpaceflight: Shuttle Carrier Aircraft arrives at KSC ahead of Discovery’s final journey

collectSPACE: NASA jumbo jet lands in Florida to deliver space shuttle to Smithsonian

SPACE.com: NASA Jumbo Jet Arrives to Ferry Shuttle Discovery to Smithsonian

 

[orb]

O-F Staff Note: Thread cleaned from off-topic discussion about the future of manned spaceflight of the United States. 10 posts were removed.

This thread is about news that Discovery will fly over Washington DC atop SCA in a way to Smithsonian Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, and not about future of the US Human Space Flight.

If you wish to continue the discussion concerning the future of the US Human Space Flight, please do so on an appropriate thread for that topic.