tagged w/ space shuttle atlantis
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Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off today on its final flight, and all along the nearby Florida coast, people watched, applauded, and mourned.
Atlantis is on a 12-day mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.. There are only two more scheduled launches after it before U.S. astronauts begin hitching rides aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft… launched from Kazakhstan.
That will mean difficult changes for thousands of people in Florida; they have lived off of the shuttle program since the first flight in 1981.
Driving down the broad highways here along the Space Coast, you'll pass the Space Shuttle Inn. The main drag in Cape Canaveral is called Astronauts Boulevard – though forget about finding a room there the night before a shuttle launch. Pushing on to the Kennedy Space Center on Florida's route 3, you'll shoot by Shuttle's Dugout Bar and Grill.
Or stop in for a drink. Outside there is a 14-foot-long exact replica of the space shuttle pointing skyward. Its owner, Bill Grillo, like so many other businesspeople here who've sunk their life savings into all-things-shuttle, is nervous.
"If the shuttle program were shut down tomorrow, I'd lose 60 percent of my business," he said. "We are definitely going to feel the pinch." He's invested heavily in Shuttle's, its sister restaurant of the same name a few miles down the road, and a nightclub -- called Space Station.
The establishment's walls are plastered with space memorabilia. Grillo has the autographed pictures of every U.S. astronaut who launched into space, many of whom have lunched here.
It's estimated up to 300,000 spectators turned out to watch, lining the beaches and swamps here in central Florida – nearly five times more than have turned out for previous launches.
Grillo says he feels confident of President Obama's plan to revitalize the Space Coast. "I believe NASA and the president will find a way to keep people here employed." The alternative, he said, is too desperate to think about.
A Matter of Money, and Love
That doesn't stop bartender Bobby Bremmer from doing it. "When the shuttle goes," he said, "it'll probably put a hole in my pocket. My mom, who works at the space center, is looking for a job already. My parents have already sold their home."
For some, like Conrad Nagel, the process flow manager for Atlantis for 13 years, this is isn't about business, but about love.
"I remember the day, 25 years ago, when Atlantis arrived. It was right out of the factory, it comes in here. And it is all shiny and new. If you can imagine a new car, and how excited you get about a new car, you can imagine how excited you get about a new spaceship."Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off today on its final flight, and all along the nearby... more
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Atlantis and seven astronauts are home.
Commander Charles Hobaugh and his co-pilot fired the braking rockets right on time Friday morning. That dropped the shuttle out of orbit and put it on course for a 9:44 a.m. landing.
Clear, crisp weather is awaiting the shuttle at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Mission Control says landing conditions are "absolutely stellar."
Atlantis' astronauts spent a week stockpiling the space station with big spare parts.
Nicole Stott is returning to Earth after three months at the outpost. She can't wait to see her husband and 7-year-old son, and eat pizza. Fellow astronaut Randolph Bresnik has even bigger plans: to hold his infant daughter for the first time.CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Atlantis and seven astronauts are home.... more
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The Hubble Space Telescope was repaired and enhanced during the STS-125 mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Launched on May 11, 2009, the 11 day mission included some five spacewalks to make repairs and upgrades to the telescope, leaving it more capable and hopefully prepared to last another five years.
This educational video will explain astronomy for kids in a fun and engaging style with exciting computer animation and breath-taking images from the Hubble Telescope.The Hubble Space Telescope was repaired and enhanced during the STS-125 mission of... more
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4 heat shields were slightly damaged on Space Shuttle Atlantis during take off.
Nasa says, "it's minor."
As a precaution Shuttle ENDEAVOUR is on stand-by.
On a lighter note: The first ever twitter message was sent from space today by Mission Specialist, MIKE MASSIMINO.
He tweeted: "LAUNCH WAS AWESOME! I AM FEELING GREAT, WORKING HARD, & ENJOYING THE MAGNIFICENT VIEWS. THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME HAS BEGUN!"4 heat shields were slightly damaged on Space Shuttle Atlantis during take off.... more
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NASA is delaying next month's shuttle launch to the Hubble Space Telescope because of problems stemming from Hurricane Ike and replacement parts for the observatory.NASA is delaying next month's shuttle launch to the Hubble Space Telescope... more
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