Atlantis lands safely..

and for the last time. A little sadness in my heart.

Ste.

It is a shame- such an icon- not just of the space programme, but of progress and achievement, in spite of the tragedies.

It's more of a shame they're not following it with something equally iconic...

Up there with the withdrawal of the Concorde for me. Shame, sad and literally end of an era

What ship are the russians using then? non-reuseable?

Any one care to fill me in on the story?

Originally Posted by Reeder

Any one care to fill me in on the story?

starting from when? you want to know about the Space Shuttle programme, or why its being decomissioned?

[Biker Biggles]

Yanks are no different to the rest of the western world.They are plain out of money and cant afford this kind of thing any longer.It remains to be seen who will take up the baton,but Im betting on China in about ten years.

[Nobbylad]

I remember being wheeled into the school hall to watch the 1st shuttle launch on tv. One of my biggest regrets is being in Florida a few years ago and not going to watch a shuttle launch in the flesh

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Yanks are no different to the rest of the western world.They are plain out of money and cant afford this kind of thing any longer.It remains to be seen who will take up the baton,but Im betting on China in about ten years.

Apart from India, they still have a space programme last time i heard, amazing what UK and foreign aid does isnt it

[Biker Biggles]

I remember staying up to watch the first moon landing.That was 42 years ago,and to think of all the so called progress and prosperity we have "enjoyed" since.But now we have no money and cant afford to do it any longer.How odd.