Houston the shuttle has landed

[OrangeXJ]

Kind of altho we got screwed out of a real one by Dick Head It was still impressive to see the replica so close.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture223.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture224.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture225.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture226.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture227.jpg

[ssandy]

nice

[Mudderoy]

Thanks for the pictures Greg! :popcorn:

[OrangeXJ]

This pic was taken from the park in my subdivison. It's in Clear Lake about a mile from the NASA docks. Notice the Coast Guard helicopter that was 1 of 2 that was escorting it plus every law emforcement agency that had a boat with flashing lights. Even Homeland Securty.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture229.jpg

[Firemanray]

Houston deserved a real one. I guess after the bitterness wears off it will be pretty cool to have a replica.
Nice pictures!!! One of my buddies is steersman on that barge. He sent some pics today also.

[XJ4IV]

Sooooo myself knowing that area pretty good... where in the world are they taking that thing? is it heading to johnson space center or is this a new attraction in Kemah?

[XJ Wheeler]

Space center.

What's funny is this "replica" used to be in Florida, why?!?!

[OrangeXJ]

Houston deserved a real one. I guess after the bitterness wears off it will be pretty cool to have a replica.
Nice pictures!!! One of my buddies is steersman on that barge. He sent some pics today also.

Post them up Ray

[XJ4IV]

well thats interesting... kind of ODD though seeing as NASA is now NOGO
might as well let the remaining ones be part of johnson space

[OrangeXJ]

Almost home

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture231.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture233.jpg

Coming down NSAS Rd.1 in front of the space center

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture232.jpg

On JSC

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture238.jpg

Altho we got screwed out of a real one I think we got the better end of the deal. This one you can go inside and look around. The real ones you can't. From I have heard there insides have been stripped and they will sealed for ever.

[OrangeXJ]

well thats interesting... kind of ODD though seeing as NASA is now NOGO
might as well let the remaining ones be part of johnson space

Ones going to Florida one to the Smithsonion one to New York :yack: and one to LA

[XJ4IV]

why does LA and NY need one?

[OrangeXJ]

Our dick head and chief did not want one in Texas because he knows the majority of Texans hate him

[Brasscatz]

why does LA and NY need one?

Because they're FOO's... Friends Of Obama. It's all politics. Kinky Friedman said it best: "You break down the word 'politics', you have 'Poly', meaning many, and ticks are blood sucking creatures."

All part of the socialistic view... share the wealth. All the hard work happened in Florida and Houston, but let's share these giant parts of history (that obummer destroyed in the first place) with other people. Yes, there are NASA locations in those areas, but... eh, nevermind. No offense to the members who may live in or around there.

It is VERY rare for me to be outspoken about my political views, so if you do not agree, please disregard because I have no desire to get worked up into a political debate ;) I try to stay out of those ;) That being said... I can't wait for November to get here!

[matchframe]

I supported shuttle launches for the last 5 years here in Houston. To me, as well as the people I work with is that just because we are in Texas, that is why we got nothing. Even the real trainers and simulators were shipped out. One of the simulators I worked with called the SAIL, Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratories, which had a real tail number just like the flight vehicles, was pulled out of Building 16A and shipped to a museum in Seattle. That was the real slap in the face since we were first told that this was going to Space Center Houston which is less that a 1/4 mile away.

The Administrator at KSC in Florida, who is not politically aligned with the losers in Washington - unlike the NASA Administrator - gave Houston this replica at KSC's expense. I think that shows a whole lot of character on his part. Atlantis will take the spot where this replica has been since the mid 1990's

I am glad that Houston got this, but it is a real bitter-sweet thing for us here who worked the shuttle program. For some reason I could not bring myself to come out to see the arrival of the replica.

What was said earlier is correct, in the end, we got the better end of the deal since the public will be able to go on board the replica and see what the flight hardware looked like. The real vehicles were gutted and sealed where no one will be able to go aboard.

[matchframe]

What's funny about NY getting one is the one they have never flew in orbit. It was the first one built called the Enterprise and was use for the glide and landing tests. It was actually suppose to be a real flight vehicle, but there were design flaws that prevented it from getting flight certification. It was going to cost more to retro-fit it than it was to build a whole new one. So all in all, what NY got was the rejected flight frame. :)

[OrangeXJ]

:thumbsup:

[Brasscatz]

What's funny about NY getting one is the one they have never flew in orbit. It was the first one built called the Enterprise and was use for the glide and landing tests. It was actually suppose to be a real flight vehicle, but there were design flaws that prevented it from getting flight certification. It was going to cost more to retro-fit it than it was to build a whole new one. So all in all, what NY got was the rejected flight frame. :)


HA!! To quote Monty Python, "I fart in your general direction!" (NY)

I feel a bit better now, thanks matchframe!