http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/discovery/nasa_tv.cfm

137k total views at the moment.

Feed on hold until aircraft arrives at Dulles...

Listening to air traffic control on liveatc dot net. Search for Dulles.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/space-shuttle-discovery-heads-to-museum-slideshow/space-shuttle-discovery-sitting-atop-747-carrier-aircraft-photo-161534329.html

My pictures from this morning:

http://www.pswired.com/photography/scry/index.php?v=list&i=0&p=shuttle

Nice pics man.... Thank you for sharing

I saw a shuttle ferried into WPAFB's Wright Field on its way back to Florida.
I'd have to dig up the print film. Hard to believe the shuttles have been in service that long.

Thanks for sharing PSWired.

I was trying to find the flight on the flight tracking sites but since it was a military flight, it did not show up.

On some of the video shots, it looked like quite a few of the airport staff was on the ramp watching the flybys and landing. The tower was definately busy with all the news choppers. Many inbound aircraft were put in holds and those showed up on the flight tracking. Pretty cool to watch.

I listened to Potomac approach and N911NA on the scanner while it was flying around, fun stuff. They joked about how all the other pilots circling around didn't think this whole event was so fun. Unfortunately didn't pick out any of the air-to-air frequencies.

Remember seeing one a few years back coming into SLC airport that was a cool site

you would think that they would wash and wax it before they shipped it...I guess sold as is..lol

OK, stupid question, but I don't really follow this stuff enough to know any better... is it just the Discovery shuttle which is being retired or that entire space shuttle design? Is there something newer we're going to be taking into space now? I've heard talk of a "new" space shuttle for years but we just keep on using that one it seems, so I'm wondering if we're finally upgrading.

JR96CK wrote:

OK, stupid question, but I don't really follow this stuff enough to know any better... is it just the Discovery shuttle which is being retired or that entire space shuttle design? Is there something newer we're going to be taking into space now? I've heard talk of a "new" space shuttle for years but we just keep on using that one it seems, so I'm wondering if we're finally upgrading.

The whole program is being scrapped. Unfortunately they decided to scrap it without a viable replacement. Right now it's up to the Russkies to keep us going to the station but SpaceX may soon be able to step in and do it privately. They're working on their first launch to the station now, last I heard.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/dragon_catch.html

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast07sep_1/


http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm

This is the next launch vehicle that will actually be built/operated by NASA.

Its the SLS(Space Launch System), it will be slightly taller than the Saturn-V rocket and eventually will out lift the Saturn-V.
In its 70 mT config. it will use 4 actual Space Shuttle Main Engines(SSME's, also known as reusable RD-25-D's) fed by a tank that is the same diameter as the Shuttle External Tank(ET) on the core stage. Currently there are 15 SSME's that have actually flown on Shuttle missions which are being stored at Stennis, which is where all the Saturn V F-1's, SSME's, and the new J2-X engines were tested. This setup will use 5 segment solide rocket boosters, the same as the Shuttle used except that they use 5 segments instead of 4 segments like was used by the Shuttle. The 5 segment boosters were tested in Utah within the last year.

In its 130-140mt config., SLS core stage will use 5 expedable RD-25Eburning Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen (HydroLox)( pretty much the same as SSme's except that they are expendable thus making them much less expensive to manufacture) along with either 2 5 segment SRB's or 2 Liquid Rocket Boosters(LRB's) which will burn Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene or LOX and methane. There will be an open competition for the SRB or LRB contracts.

Endeavour, Atlantis and Discovery were stripped of their propulsion control systems for use on SLS.
Mission Targeted date Notes
SLS-1/EM-1 December 2017 Send Orion/MPCV on unmanned trip around the Moon.
SLS-2/EM-2 August 2019[54] Send Orion/MPCV on a manned trip around the Moon.
SLS-3 August 2022
SLS-4 August 2023
SLS-5 August 2024 First launch of SLS Cargo configuration
SLS-6 August 2025 Manned "Exploration" Mission
SLS-7 August 2026 Cargo launch
SLS-8 August 2027 Manned launch
SLS-9 August 2028 Cargo launch
SLS-10 August 2029 Manned launch
SLS-11 August 2030 New configuration, Cargo launch
SLS-12 August 2031 Manned mission
SLS-13 August 2032 New configuration, Cargo launch

SLS launching


This is the MPCV(Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle ) named Orion which will launch humans on top of SLS


Now on the Commercial spacecraft which are operated by private companies like Space X which operates Dragon Vehicles and Falcon-9 rocket..
NASA awarded a $1.6 billion Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) to SpaceX on 23 December 2008, with options that potentially increase the maximum contract value to $3.1 billion. The contract calls for 12 flights to the ISS, with a minimum of 20,000 kg (44,000 lb) of cargo carried to the ISS. Dragon has a test within a month that will launch a Dragon capsule into orbit with teh International SPace Station and use its guidance systems to approach the ISS. If this is successful, NASA will allow Dragon to dock with teh ISS. If there are isues with teh approach, the approach will be stopped, Dragon will deorbit and complete its 3rd test later on. Space X is trying to combine Test 2 and 3 in teh same launch. The Dragon capsule and Falcon rocket has already successfully launbced, orbitted, de-orbitted and spalshdown success fully late last year.
Dragon and Falcon9 will be used to resupply the ISS as part of the Commercial ResupplyServices Program. In 2015/16 Dragon/Falcon will fly Astronuats to and from the ISS as part of the Commercial Crew Development (CCDEV).

SpaceDev owned by the Sierra Nevada Corporation also received NASA money for its proposed ISS resupply/crew swap vehicle/launcher. It is called Dreamchaser, Sierra Nevada was awarded $20 million in seed money under NASA’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) phase 1 program for the development of the Dream Chaser. Of the $50 million awarded by the CCDev program, Dream Chaser's award represented the largest share of the funds.
On April 18, 2011, NASA awarded nearly $270 million in funding for CCDev 2, including $80 million to Sierra Nevada for Dream Chaser.

Dreamchaser


The Boeing Company is also getting NASA CCDEV(Commecrial Crew Development)money for its CST-100 capsule. In the first phase of its CCDev program NASA awarded Boeing $18 million for preliminary development of the spacecraft.[7] In the second phase Boeing was awarded $93 million for further development.
The Boeing CST-100 will be manufactured and tested in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-3) where Space Shuttles used to be worked on in between missions. Boeing leased the building, which is one of teh reasons a bid to operate Endeavour and Atlantis commercially wouldnt work. Private investors raised enough capital to fly the 2 Shuttles up to 8 times a year, but unfortunatley some of the SPAce Shuttle infrastructure at Kennedy SPace Center and Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) had already beed promised to other ventures. MAF built the External tanks and also built the Saturn V rockets.

Boeing CST-100


Once we get some of the CCDev up and running , we can stop paying the Russians $66,000,000 a seat on their Soyuz rockets/capsules.

Part 1:VAB(Vhicle Assembly Building) integration and stacking
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/11/mobile-launcherpad-39b-providing-opening-tests-sls-con-ops/

Part 2 Pad Flow to launch
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/11/sls-aims-launch-week-after-rollout-ml-rolls-back-park-site/

Part 3: Exploration Roadmap - Part 1:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/12/building-roadmap-sls-con-ops-lays-leolunar-options/

Part 4: Exploration Roadmap - Part 2:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/sls-capability-europa-lander-capability-enceladus-sample-return/

Part 5: (General, and several content sources, but still Con Ops by nature):
SLS Exploration Roadmap evaluations provide clues for human Mars missions
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/sls-exploration-roadmap-pointing-dual-mars-approach/

Part 6: SLS interest in DoD launch market and Secondary Payloads potential:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/02/sls-dod-market-secondary-payloads-potential/

Part 7: Space Launch System: How to launch NASA’s new monster rocket:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/02/sls-how-to-launch-nasas-new-monster-rocket/




Once SLS is up and running, we can fly around the moon, fly to an ateroid, and eventually if my dreams come true, have some missions to Mars within my lifetime. Every night for teh last few months I look up in the middle of the sky and I can see the red planet, and yes, it looks like a rusty/red start, that doesnt twinkle of course.

peace
Hog

I saw a great pic of Enterprise and Discovery setting nose to nose. Rare to see 2 shuttles in such close proximity.
Discovery off the Shuttle Carrier Aicraft, and Enterprise will be loaded back onto the SCA as Enterprise is going to New York for display at the Intrepid museum after a ride on a barge.

Courtesy NASA
Michael Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
michael.curie@nasa.gov

Laura J. Brown
Federal Aviation Administration
202-267-3455
laura.j.brown@faa.gov
April 16, 2012 MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-071 Shuttle Enterprise to Fly Over New York City Metro Area April 23 WASHINGTON -- NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) with space shuttle Enterprise mounted atop will fly at a relatively low altitude over various parts of the New York City metropolitan area on Monday, April 23.

The Federal Aviation Administration is coordinating the flight, which is scheduled to occur between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. EDT.

The exact route and timing of the flight depend on weather and operational constraints, including the on-time delivery of space shuttle Discovery to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va., this week. If all goes as planned, the aircraft is expected to fly near a variety of landmarks in the metropolitan area, including the Statue of Liberty and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. When the flyover is complete, the SCA will land at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

During the weeks following the arrival, Enterprise will be "demated" from the 747 and placed on a barge that will be moved by tugboat up the Hudson River to the Intrepid museum in June. The shuttle will be lifted by crane and placed on the flight deck of the Intrepid, where it will be on exhibit to the public starting this summer in a temporary climate-controlled pavilion. The Intrepid continues to work on a permanent exhibit facility to showcase Enterprise that will enhance the museum's space-related exhibits and education curriculum.

If the flight is postponed for any reason, an additional notice will be released.

For more information about NASA's transfer of space shuttles to museums, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/transition



For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov


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peace
Hog

Got this from a friend of mine...very cool video of the shuttle boosters in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=player_embedded&v=2aCOyOvOw5c

Very cool! Thanks

Ya know, that Dreamchaser looks an awful lot like Ranger 1.

Cool vid Rob, esp. since it has the actual audio.

Here are some good shots too, all because of the Columbia tragedy as part of Return to Flight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=player_embedded&v=2aCOyOvOw5c

peace
Hog