Discovery Shuttle Launch

[tek]

At of this moment, tanking operations(Filling of the External Tank) is delayed due to a launch pad side issue with a heater related to a purge valve. They are replacing it rather then using the secondary unit.


http://www.nasa.gov

You can watch NASA TV Live.

[[ecgn] btt]

Although I think It is good for NASA to move foward. I am going to go on a small rant now so don't say I didn't warn you.

One reason and probaly the biggest reason NASA was started, was to help stay ahead of the Soviet Union. I think I did its job and did it very very well. Our whole world has benefitted from the bright minds that worked there. However In the world we live in today I think NASA needs to change its focus. They helped in some way to win the cold war. Now they need to help the world deal with terror. One way and the main way would be to put 25% of what they did in the space race(which would be almost all there resources today) to develop alternative energy. I don't know much about it But I can put two and two together. And If OPEC was only something you read about in history text books the world might be a better place.

Ok off my soap box. lol I wish the Astronughts well and a safe return.

[Conscious*]

I say let Nasa keep going, no reason they should be cut short of funds, i find space exploration exciting, and i have no problem with the government doing it. I saw a question that posed if you were given the chance as a civilian to travel to space for free...only %33 said yes and %67 said no on my local news station. I would pay a considerable amount of money to go to space. But for free, i think its well worth the risk.

[[ecgn] btt]

I am not saying there funds should be cut. I just think if they spent the money on devloping alternative energy and not the ISS and shuddle launches we would be that much closer to hydrogen cars and not needing to drill in Alaska etc etc. Don't cut the money just use it in a way that would be more Beneficial to all of us.

BulletTooth, those fancy cell phones you use, they come from technology that came about because of shuttle missions.

[SavageParrot]

They could just give the money to me. I promise it would be wisely invested

[[ecgn] btt]

I know my cell phone, my microwave, my computer, tv diners, my sattilite tv. I just wish I could say my hydrogen car (or any other type of car that does not run on the same fuel that they ran on 100 years ago. adding this with edit- or a fuel that is controlled by seven countries in the whole world, some of which are not the best examples of how a country should be run) and the plastic which is in everything is not based on Petrolium. Don't get me wrong guys I love space and NASA. Since I was a kid. All to long ago I might add.(or atleast it feels that way lol) I just think NASA needs to roll up their sleves shut the door put on a pot of coffe and bring us to the next level with alterative energy. If they put half the enery into this that they did to put a man on the moon in ten years, it would be done. I am not saying down with NASA. I am asking them to do what they have done befor. Change the world for the better.

They should focus on laser guns.

[Conscious*]

Not launching till Saturday accorinding to CNN dot com.