Shuttle Discovery Returns From Space

Two-Week, 5.7 Million-Mile Mission Ends; Astronaut Returns After 3 Months At International Space Station

(AP)  Shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven returned to Earth on Saturday and capped a successful expansion job at the international space station, more spacious and robust thanks to a new billion-dollar science lab.

The shuttle swooped through a slightly cloudy sky and landed at 11:15 a.m., under the control of commander Mark Kelly.

"Beautiful land, Mark, and congratulations on a great mission," Mission Control radioed when Discovery came to a safe stop.

"Great to be back," Kelly replied.

Discovery's mission spanned 14 days, 217 orbits and 5.7 million miles, and was described by NASA as being about as smooth as it gets.

Kelly and his crew accomplished everything they set out to do in orbit. They delivered and installed Japan's Kibo lab, now the space station's biggest room and most sophisticated science workshop, and dropped off a new pump that the two Russians on board used to fix their toilet.

The space station also got a new American resident who took the place of astronaut Garrett Reisman, returning home after 95 days in space.

Reisman's wife, Simone Francis, was waiting at the Kennedy Space Center. Over the past week, Reisman described in quite romantic terms how much he missed her, calling her "my favorite Earthling" and "doll face."

Although the mission itself unfolded almost flawlessly, Discovery left behind a battered launch pad on May 31. Some 5,300 bricks flew off the flame trench when Discovery blasted away, most likely because they were not attached properly to the underlying concrete wall when the pad was built in the 1960s for the Apollo moon shots.

NASA managers are confident the launch pad can be fixed in time for the next shuttle flight in October, by Atlantis to the Hubble Space Telescope.

The next time a shuttle flies to the space station, now three-quarters complete, isn't until November. That's because NASA needs to have a shuttle ready to rush to Atlantis' aid in case of serious damage to its thermal shielding. Atlantis' astronauts will not be able to get from Hubble to the space station for shelter.

NASA had no such rescue plan in place when Columbia took off in 2003 on a solo-flying research mission. In any event, mission managers had no idea Columbia's left wing was severely damaged at liftoff, and the shuttle shattered during re-entry. All seven on board were killed.

Shades of Columbia briefly surfaced Friday when Discovery's astronauts spotted something floating away from their spaceship. It turned out to be a little metal clip that broke off the rudder, and engineers ascertained within just four hours that its absence posed no danger for Discovery's re-entry.

[fstop100]

Lets stop playing Buck Rogers and deal with our problems here on earth.

[platteman]

Without the space program we wouldn''t have the cell phones of today, computers, medical advances,mapping advances of GPS and a host of other items that many of us take for granted. The space program has helped us in so many ways, there is not enough room to tell of all the advances we here on Earth have gotten.

[hbevis]

Platteman

I AGREE WITH YOU.I WORKED IN THE SPACE PROGRAM FOR OVER 30 YEARS.THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THINGS THAT CAME ABOUT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF OUT SPACE PROGRAM.

[fstop100]

Life was simpler before all the high tech toys.
We could develop new technologies on earth. Without wasting time and money traveling in space.
Baking Martian soil isn''t going to solve our problems.
Ask Captain Kirk

[pensacola88]

The greatest thing going for my tax dollars these days are the NASA space launches. The Space Shuttle is America''s Concorde!! They both originated just a few years apart and found their fulfillment through service. The first news release about the proposed space shuttle was a blurb during the Nixon Watergate hearings, that only a few gave any attention. Those shuttles are grander than I ever imagined! A great idea just doesn''t die easily. Like the flying wings, space shuttles were far ahead of their time, when they were financed for research and developement. The technology is a great gift for present and future generations of aerospace engineers!

[jboxton]

hbevis- You are lying. There is no way you worked in the space program (maybe as a janitor). If you don''t have sense enough to not type in all caps, you are not smart enough for something that big.

[memerider]

We need to build more shuttles using what we''ve learned. Many dislike admitting it, but many of our key technological and medical breakthroughs are the direct result of the space program and war.

The way to end problems on earth is to control our population and limit our consumption and waste.

[cockapoo11]

That things a flying ''lets leave pieces behind'' contraption.

[platteman]

Years ago I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture given by Neal Armstrong. I sat there just enthralled listening to him tell about the moon, space and all that went on. After the lecture I, being sort of brash, I walked up to Neal Armstrong and asked him for his autograph. He obliged me very willingly and while he did that very kind gesture for me, I commented that every time I see him land the Lunar Module on the moon, that I got goosebumps. Mr. Armstrong replied that he too gets goose bumps when he sees what he had done. I left that chance meeting knowing that Neal Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, was a very humble man in many ways. I will never forget that meeting.

[cockapoo11]

Unfortunately there''s no money for it anymore. Your lunar landscape of goosebump discovery is a war machine thats hungry.

[cockapoo11]

Move to China if ya wanna go to the moon, or mars, or any place else to find out the intricate workings of the universe. They''re the only ones smart enough to mind their own business.

[bgwinnett]

Posted by cockapoo11 at 05:26 PM

Black holes are the way to go!

[hbevis]

Posted by jboxton at 02:45 PM : Jun 14, 2008

WELL, JUST WHO ARE YOU TO BE MAKING JUDGMENTS ON SOMEONE. I USE CAPITAL LETTERS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I USED FOR MANY YEARS WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT. AND BECAUSE MY HANDS ARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MAYBE YOU WERE NEVER IN ANY OF OUR ARMED SERVICES. AS ALMOST ALL NOTICES, ETC. ARE WRITTEN IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

GO TO A SEARCH ENGINE AND LOOK UP ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Air_Force_Base). THERE A NUMBER OF OTHER SITES BESIDES THIS ONE.

I WAS THERE FROM AUG. 1963 TO THE END OF 1994. SPACE WORK WAS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WORKED ON. JET ENGINES WERE TESTED AT SIMULATED ALTITUDES. ROCKET ENGINES WERE TESTED THE SAME WAY. THE ENGINES FOR ALL OF THE MOON LANDINGS WERE TESTED THERE AS WELL AS OTHER PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS BASE IS THE LARGEST FACILITY OF ITS KIND IN THE FREE WORLD. THERE IS A COMPLETE HISTORY ON THE SEVERAL SITES ON LINE.

WHEN I SAID HUNDREDS OF THINGS CAME ABOUT FROM OUR SPACE PROGRAMS, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I MEANT. THERE WERE MANY MANY THINGS THAT WERE DISCOVERED FROM THE MID 1950''s UP TO THE PRESENT TIME. MANY THINGS THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC USES ALL THE TIME.
--

[hbevis]

dmw1167

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT.....:)

[cockapoo11]

It''ll only be when we develop nanite technology that black holes will be any avenue of exploration. Mass is the enemy with a black hole.. and the smaller the probe is the better.. kinda like my nub.

[cockapoo11]

The imagination is inversely proportional to the male macho psych. Scientists all over the world have often come to this conclusion.. and I pity you, NASA. I pity you for the age we live in..

[hbevis]

The imagination is inversely proportional to the male macho psych. Scientists all over the world have often come to this conclusion.. and I pity you, NASA. I pity you for the age we live in..

Posted by cockapoo11

I HAVE BEEN RETIRED A LONG TIME FROM THIS BUSINESS. THE AVERAGE PERSON HAS NO IDEA AT ALL WHAT IT TAKES TO SEND UP A SPACE VEHICLE. NASA IS A BIG OUTFIT AND THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY USED IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT RIGHT. BUT THE BULK OF THE MONEY IS USED FOR GOOD PURPOSES. ANYTHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES HAS WASTE IN IT BECAUSE OF POLITICS,ETC.

OVER ALL A GOOD JOB IS DONE. THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WERE AND ARE USELESS OR DID NOT TURN OUT THE WAY PEOPLE THOUGHT. BUT THAT IS JUST THE COST OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. AS THE OLD SAYING GOES: YOU WIN SOME AND LOSE SOME.

[bgwinnett]

Posted by cockapoo11 at 07:10 PM

CERN could be gettin close.

[godofredo29]

"The imagination is inversely proportional to the male macho psych."

On that point, check out the testimony of Mr. Francisco Castaneda at the following url:

http://www.aclu.org/immigrants/detention/32062leg20071004.html#attach

[hbevis]

"The imagination is inversely proportional to the male macho psych."

On that point, check out the testimony of Mr. Francisco Castaneda at the following url:

http://www.aclu.org/immigrants/d
etention/32062leg20071004.html#attach

Posted by godofredo29 at 08:43 PM : Jun 14, 2008

THIS IS A HORROR STORY FOR SURE. THIS IS A CASE OF STUPIDLY ON THE PART OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THIS CASE.THIS HAS ZERO TO DO WITH THE SPACE PROGRAM BUT EVERYONE THAT READS THIS POST NEEDS TO GO TO THE WEB SITE AND READ WHAT THIS YOUNG MAN WENT THROUGH, AND IS GOING TO LOSE HIS LIFE BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE WAS TREATED.

[oneworldusa]

5.7 million miles = how much fuel?

[obeylaw]

Ahhh yes....the nonsense on these postings go on and on. Semper Fi

[Latrocinor]

5.7 million miles = how much fuel?

Posted by OneWorldUSA
.. .. ..

Check your owners manual or the EPA website. Here''s a great starting point: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

Fuel mileage estimates tend to be a bit low.

Why? Are you thinking of buying one? I suspect it''s probably out of your price range.

[Latrocinor]

THIS IS A HORROR STORY FOR SURE. THIS IS A CASE OF STUPIDLY ON THE PART OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

Posted by hbevis

.. .. ..

Shuttle Discovery Returns From Space is a wonderful story. You should be happy everything went OK. These are exciting times in research and exploration.

[hbevis]

THIS IS A HORROR STORY FOR SURE. THIS IS A CASE OF STUPIDLY ON THE PART OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

Posted by hbevis

.. .. ..

Shuttle Discovery Returns From Space is a wonderful story. You should be happy everything went OK. These are exciting times in research and exploration.

Posted by bhoogren at 10:58 PM : Jun 14, 2008

YOU HAVE TAKEN SOME BIT OF MY POST OUT OF CONTEXT. LOOK AT THIS WEB SITE TO SEE WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

http://www.aclu.org/immigrants/d
etention/32062leg20071004.html#attach

[thomderr]

Obeylaw, you''re correct!

There is nothing sweeter than the sound of that bird double - knocking on my door during re-entry.

(How about that, a post about the shuttle!)

[fstop100]

Buck Rogers can take a dump again, new toilet delivered, cost to taxpayers millions,feeling of relief....priceless!

[cockapoo11]

We wouldn''t have any need fer space toilets if people just loved one another.

[rushlimpdrug]

The space program has helped us in so many ways, there is not enough room to tell of all the advances we here on Earth have gotten.
Posted by Platteman at 12:14 PM


I guess you can prove space is not limitless.

Congrats!
You are the "new" newton.

[guadalcanal3]

AWESOME JOB NASA!....KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!