Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

As we are all going about our daily business it's sometimes good to reflect on the wider achievements of mankind.

This is the final Space Shuttle launch as viewed from the commercial jet and for mine can be filed under:

- Bloody hell that is impressive
- In many years to come it will still be impressive
- What great things can be done given the will, money and skills

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

I saw this earlier - great stuff. It's actually not the last shuttle flight, only the last one for Discovery. There are 2 more planned for later this year.

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Ah, thanks for the heads-up ... would be a great thing to see live ...

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Not bad...I suppose?

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Space travel doesn't yank your plonker then?

Any advances on impressive human achievements through the ages? ;)

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

I'm a bit of a geek regarding spaceflight - I saw 2 or 3 launches in Florida from my house even though it was 150m away.

Through the wonders of communication this last launch saw me watching it live on TV, listening to the NASA comms on internet scanner radio and watching the ISS orbit converging on the launch via heavensabove.com on the comfuser.

I should probably get out more but in my defence I am housebound with whooping cough.............

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Cool ... 150 miles, not metres I assume :eek:

Get better soon ;)

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Would love to see the estate agent's blurb on that property.

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Plenty of space out back?

Shuttle service on the doorstep?

No mowing required?

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Nah, I was being facetious :p

I'm an avid fan of Space and it's respective exploration. What SpaceX did with their Dragon capsule blew me away recently, and when they dock the Dragon with the ISS in the near future I will be even more blown away. I was born in the same year that Neil, Buzz landed on the Moon (slightly after) so I can appreciate the significance of what SpaceX are about to achieve.

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Well, that's alright then :D

I'm July 24th ... 1971 ... which is famous for er ... hold on, I'll look it up ... not much ... :o

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Given that it first flew in the 60's and also because I worked, for a while, at its 'home' in Filton, I find this just as impressive.

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Indeed so, and what has replaced it? Big jets hauling ever increasing numbers most of which are in the same economy 'comfort' as the last xxx years.

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Very impressive bit of technology especially given the period its design was frozen. As a kit for converting kerosine into noise it couldn't be beaten <g>

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

I'll see your Concorde and raise you a Vulcan Bomber ... one of my earliest memories at an airshow ... that shows Johnny Foreigner what is what :D

http://wingweb.co.uk/wingweb/img/500...58_takeoff.jpg

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Ah, the "Aluminium Overcast"

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

You really must stop putting yourself down so much, it's not healthy.

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In a lot of ways the Vulcan is more incredible than Concorde - it flew just over 10 years after the Lancaster and really was at the cutting edge of technology of the time with it's big delta wing.

There's a book called Vulcan 607, which is about the Vulcan strike on Port Stanley in 1982. I cannot recommend it enough.

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Consider it recommended!

I'll be back with a review in due course ...

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The Concorde used to scream over my house every morning at 11:00AM. Ive got a few vids holding my then baby boy up. Will have to dig them out....

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Loved both concorde and the Vulcan bomber, but also the Lightning when it used "reheat" and stood on its tail to shoot straight up- just as impressive as the shuttle in a smaller way.

I'm 1960 vintage, so watched the moon landing as a special treat. Dad worked as a meteorologist at RAF bases, so I often got close ups of the planes- Wildenrath had lightnings, and Vulcans came to visit for the air shows.:thumbsup:

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I had a ride in a Lightning once and as you say the "wheels up - go vertical" is .....interesting! Endurance is something like 30-odd minutes which is even more interesting!

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Drove past a Lightning on my way to work at Bae for <too many> years ... Sadly just a gate guard, never saw one in the air ...
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co...ter-060802.jpg

Now that says 'Interceptor' :thumbup:

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Did it ask people where they were going?

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No, I think he meant he was a gate guard.

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

BAe Rochester?

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;) Subtle irony is so wasted sometimes.

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In it's day it told people where to go ;)

It WAS about as effective as the Security Guards though, I once got back from lunch with just a library card as ID.

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The very same, first 8 years of my working life ... 4 of those were pay-rise free from memory.

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When the husband used to work at BAe I used to go visit and was rarely asked for id, just drove out to the airfield and wandered around until I found him. :lol:

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I once used a KitKat wrapper to get into 20Site at BAe Filton. :eek:

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Pretty standard for BAe, always pleading poverty.

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Decimalisation.


Watching the vid I started getting that feeling that, like other advanced technologies, they might end up not bothering to make something better.

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

:thumbup:

It looks so miniature.

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Perspective does that sometimes.

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I don't think I'm making this up.... I remember Vulcan bombers flying over our house in Manchester in the 1950s, I also remember hearing the sound barrier being broken around the same time.

I thought Concorde was beautiful and managed to see a few of them on the ground and flying.

The moon landing was the best. I'm so glad I stayed up to watch it.

I would love to go into space, say for my 90th birthday? Nothing like planning ahead.

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Who said that? :lol:

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

:rofl:

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I knew a lad in england who did a parachute jump at sunderland airfield / air museum. They had a vulcan bomber there and when he did his jump he actually came down and landed on the wing of the plane.

He then stood up, wondered how he was gunna get down, slipped, fell off and broke his leg. :rofl:

Never had much luck did kev, went to ireland with the british army and got shot off his own side. Smashed his elbow to pieces

Now he's a gas fitter, its only a matter of time before i hear about kev again

Re: Shuttle Launch Viewed From A Plane
 

Yes. Brilliant. :D

Reminds me of this one from City Slickers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQGga...eature=related