A Salute To NASA

[Crockett]

Hats off to the men & women of NASA on this historic, yet sad day. The final shuttle launch into the final frontier...at least from U.S. soil today. I would have loved to have seen Atlantis, even from miles away at WDW. But just a glimpse of this historic moment in person would have been breathtaking.

Kudos to our men & women who worked for NASA over the past decades since the program began. I feel saddened for those who will be let go, especially considering that many, despite their experience & education, are in the "No Hire" age zone in America (45+). They all definitely deserve our respect.

Did anyone who visited the area today get any cool pics they'd like to share of the final launch?

 

[The Mom]

I know three of those laid off from NASA who fit that description. Not many jobs for a 50ish rocket scientist these days.

 

[Sam Eagle 1776]

Yes truly historic, so many advances in technology and space knowledge. They indeed deserve tons of respect for their part in history

I remember years ago when we used to stay off site every time we went to wdw and Kennedy Space Center was always a destination, great place if you have a chance to see it.

 

[The Mom]

BTW, I watched the first space launch via a black and white TV set up in my school's gym, and the last in full color on the NASA website.

These are days that make me feel old.

 

[Number_6]

We watched a lot of the shuttle launches live on television when I was in elementary school, especially since I was in school in the 80s when the shuttle program was still fairly young. We missed the Challenger disaster, since there was a play being performed in our auditorium that day, but we were all informed of it after the performance.

It's sad to see the end of an era for NASA and even sadder that they have nothing lined up to replace the shuttle, but rather that they just won't really be sending missions into space from US soil for a while.

 

[ScoutN]

BTW, I watched the first space launch via a black and white TV set up in my school's gym, and the last in full color on the NASA website.

These are days that make me feel old.

That's awesome! I was in Langley Research Facility on Friday to watch the launch with several of the engineers that have worked the STS program since Day 1. It was an honor to witness such an occasion with so many that had a first hand contribution to an amazing program. Amongst those there were Constellation engineers who were leading the LAS system for Ares I that was canned. It was a moment I will surely remember until I die.

My hat goes off to those who made it such a success and key role in our nation and its security.