07-21-2011, 04:08 PM | #1 |
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Feel proud
Guys, you should feel proud, last night we watched the last landing of the space shuttle,
What a great thing for your country to have done. Well done. Lawrie from Australia |
07-21-2011, 04:38 PM | #2 |
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Re: Feel proud
Lawrie,
YOU are a great example of why so many Americans feel such a strong kinship with Australia. Thank you from those of us who appreciate the support Australia provided in a challenge that required your good friendship. Hoop
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07-21-2011, 04:54 PM | #3 |
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Re: Feel proud
We are proud of you for the way you are. When I was over there I was treated very nice and felt proud that I was there to see that. We are more then brothers and thank you.
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07-21-2011, 05:29 PM | #4 |
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Re: Feel proud
I just hate to see the program come to an end.
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07-21-2011, 06:20 PM | #5 |
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Re: Feel proud
That's the sad part!!
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07-21-2011, 07:38 PM | #6 |
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Re: Feel proud
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07-21-2011, 08:10 PM | #7 |
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Re: Feel proud
Australians are true friends of America. They have fought side by side with us in every war in the last 100 years but the Granada Invasion. I have nothing but gratitude and admiration for them.
Thank you and your fellow countrymen Lawrie! Shadetree
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07-21-2011, 11:03 PM | #8 |
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Re: Feel proud
I too greatly appreciate your comment. Our people's have a true kinship in spirit. I have never been much of a traveler, mainly because I can't afford it, but I sure would like to make it to Australia some day.
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07-22-2011, 04:01 AM | #9 |
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Re: Feel proud
I agree, the only places I would like to visit are New Zealand and Australia. All the people I have met from those countries are great. My Daddy often talked, with great affection, about the people of New Zealand he met during WWII.
As for the space travels of America-----We would have been far better off to release all those brilliant scientists and engineers 25 years ago. Who knows what innovations and technology could have been developed in the private sector? They could be generating millions of tax dollars rather than costing billions of tax dollars. What did we prove by making those same flights over and over? Just my opinion. |
07-22-2011, 10:18 AM | #10 |
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Re: Feel proud
John, I guess the practical answer to your question, is that we built the space station. Now exactly what have we accomplished with it would be the next question. Not much info has come out as to why and what, when talking about the space station. Leaves me wondering what it was, or is, for.??????????????
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07-22-2011, 10:26 AM | #11 |
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Re: Feel proud
Russ, as I understand it. It will be a base pad for vehicles to launch further into space. First an asteroid, then mars. Hard to say what privatization of the space program will do. I guess wait and see.
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07-22-2011, 11:38 AM | #12 |
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Re: Feel proud
Thanks Lawrie! Overall, the US space program has provided many technology advancement benefits that are in use today around the world. Many folks are not even remotely aware of how some of these technological advancemets affect or improve their daily lives. It's sad for me to think about what advancements may not happen now that the program is ending.
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07-22-2011, 11:52 AM | #13 |
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Re: Feel proud
I actually work on the space program. A sad end indeed, but as others have said, costly in lives and money. Many, many good things came out of the program, but it was time to end it. I watched the new Constellation program run the budget well into the red before there was even a final design. I support the idea of the commercial industry taking the reigns, unfortunately I think it will be many, many years before we have something active and notable given the current economic crisis we're in. Many blame the current administration for the end of US space travel, but there's no one to blame but NASA and it's subcontractors.
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07-22-2011, 12:00 PM | #14 |
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Re: Feel proud
Yes, end of an era, and now what? I hate that this nation is in this current position, not only financially but in leadership and vision when it comes to a "shared" future in the exploration of space.
As to our friends down under, I cannot agree more about the postings in regards to the friendship, shared sacrifice and lovers of freedom and expression we share. If all works out well I plan to visit Australia this fall, their spring, in October for the 19th Annual Picnic Run which is around Melborne. It will be well worth it! |
07-22-2011, 12:17 PM | #15 |
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Re: Feel proud
I have mixed feeling about the shuttle program specifically. It was quite an accomplishment for it's time. A lot of really good inovations from that program have made it into our daily lives around the whole world. It turned out to be much more costly than had been imagined during the design phase but we were still in a cold war and space race at that time so we kind of threw the cost to the wind.
With folks like Rutan and a few others in the private sector starting to get notice for their inovation, it will be interesting to see if we can come up with more cost effective solutions to carry on with space experimentation & exploration. If we can solve the mysteries of the universe, we can solve a lot of our own energy problems here on earth. Kerby |
07-22-2011, 08:14 PM | #16 |
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Re: Feel proud
Thanks Mate, Ol' Ron
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07-22-2011, 08:47 PM | #17 |
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Re: Feel proud
WE should of did Ronnie Reagans Star Wars Program instead of going up and Down into space
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07-22-2011, 11:12 PM | #18 |
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Re: Feel proud
If you look at the posts above, they all say the standard answer. "there were many innovations as a result of the space program". I really believe that, but, we never hear what they are.
Sorry, did not mean to hijack the intent of this thread. Again, thanks mate for the compliment. |
07-23-2011, 07:38 AM | #19 |
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Re: Feel proud
The bigest single one was the material technology to work the heat shielding. The tiles and glue to attach them brought us out of the dark ages on composite structures. Others were elastomers that can take extreme heat and extreme cold and carbon fiber technology. The list goes on. Many of the tech advances are already becoming obsolete. This program far exceeded any other single space delivery program by many years.
If you wonder why American Airlines just ordered near 400 new aircraft, its all about less weight in composite structures and more engine fuel efficiency. It would have taken many more years to get to where we are now in the aerospace industry if it hadn't been for the shuttle program. Kerby Last edited by rotorwrench; 07-23-2011 at 07:42 AM. Reason: spelling |
07-23-2011, 11:27 AM | #20 |
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Re: Feel proud
Thanks for that bit of info.......
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