Return to space
The Space Shuttle Discovery had a successful liftoff today. Despite numerous glitches and delays over the past two weeks, it was by all accounts a picture perfect launch. Discovery's launch marks the first shuttle launch in over two years; NASA had grounded the shuttle since the Columbia disaster in Feruary 2003. Discovery is set to conduct a number of experiments and rendezvous with the International Space Station to drop off supplies and perform repairs. The mission will last 12 days.
Full story here and here.
UPDATE: Not so perfect? NASA is currently analyzing some video footage that appears to show debris falling off Discovery during liftoff. First reports suggest that none of the debris hit Discovery. Falling debris hitting the shuttle during launch has been blamed for the Columbia's destruction as it reentered Earth's atmosphere. More details on the debris at CNN.
UPDATE 2: Pictures here.
UPDATE 3: More (and better) pictures here, including a photo of the shuttle hitting a bird during takeoff.
6 comments:
What's your opinion of the international space station? Floating hunk of space garbage or first step towards developing a space community?
Ah, the ISS. I wouldn't characterize it as a "floating hunk of space garbage." I guess I'd consider it more like a step toward developing a "space community."
The ISS is the fourth generation orbital space station, after the Salyut stations, Mir, and Skylab. Those two probably better qualify as "floating hunk[s] of space garbage," but at the time were fairly state of the art. There are several things about the ISS that strike me as important developments in furthering space exploration and possibly colonization.
First, this was a large scale project that was constructed in space. (Mir was built this way as well.) Earlier stations were launched in one piece. I feel this is important as any large vehicles habitats will have to be constructed piece by piece in orbit.
Second, the ISS is a continuing step in studying and monitoring the effects of long-term space habitation. As we learn more, we will be able to better refine the "accomodations" and ensure that people can safely live in space.
Finally, what makes the ISS unique is that it is (at least somewhat) an international endeavor, whereas all the previous stations were the sole projects of single countries (though it should be noted that Mir began to take on a more international flavor as there was more Russian cooperation with the U.S. in the waning days of its existence). I think that an international effort will ultimately be necessary to continue substantial space exploration and habitation. The ISS is a big and very positive first step in this direction.
Ultimately, I doubt that the ISS will be the "staging ground" for future missions; there will probably be another incarnation of the space station before we reach that step. The ISS will certainly not be the first "space hotel." While some have talked about that possibility, as well as "orbital cities," there are currently no serious plans to construct anything of that nature.
Wow! Well constructed answer. Props to research and clarity my friend.
I agree with you, but for a differnt reason - anything is better than nothing. Space is what's next. We go there next. The planet is quickly running out of room, and unless we plan to colognize the oceans, space is next. Besides, we will never be able to boldly go where no man has gone before without learning how to live in space. I chanmpion the space station, the space shuttle, and anything regarding blasting off from Earth.
Any space station is better than no space station.
How THE HELL does a bird get hit by the space shuttle? Is it just not paying attention? Are birds categorically near-sighted? Is the speed of the shuttle so fast that the bird couldn't get out of the way?
What's the deal?
Earth is so not running out of space. I think I read a statistic that only 90% of the planet is actually developed. There's plenty of room for years to come.
D - I don't know how a bird manages to get hit by the space shuttle. The shuttle does move pretty quickly during launch though (see here). It's possible that the bird just couldn't get out of the way in time. In any case, it's just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
R - I completely agree with you that Earth is not running out of space. There are parts of the planet that are getting overcrowded, but that's more a matter of population density than actually running out of room. Most of Africa is terribly underdeveloped; changing this would easily eliminate the perception that there's not enough room or resources.
But overcrowding is not the only reason to establish communities in space. Much could be learned from having more long-term residence in space. There's research and exploration to be done. And if you want to be extremely far-sighted and fatalistic, there's the realization that Earth won't be around forever -- there's always the risk of a rogue comet or asteroid striking the planet, and eventually the Sun will burn out. Granted, the likelihood of the former is rather small, and we have eons upon millenia before the latter. At least, that's our current understanding. So perhaps there's no immediate need to establish communities in space. That's a good thing, since we're not even close to being able to pull it off. Still, I think it's an important and exciting step to take as a species.
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