Video: Space Shuttle Discovery landing
posted at 7:11 pm on December 22, 2006 by Ian
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WELCOME HOME BRAVE ONES.
Have a Merry Christmas.
OBX Pete on December 22, 2006 at 7:21 PM
I’ll bet I have seen 20 of these, but each and every time I see one it just gets more beautiful!
NEMETI IN SYRACUSE on December 22, 2006 at 7:21 PM
Awesome. I’m no pilot, but landing that behemoth (with no power) has got to be one the most difficult things a pilot can ever do.
infidel4life on December 22, 2006 at 7:24 PM
It’s great that the weather worked out so they could use the landing pad of their choice. Bravo!
NTWR on December 22, 2006 at 7:29 PM
That “in cockpit” view was fantastic – Sen Nelson is right though, it does look like you are pointed straight at the ground!
jeffshultz on December 22, 2006 at 7:30 PM
With all the hype here in New Mexico about then landin’ here I was really bummed out that the wife had to work & we couldn’t run down there to watch it.
Just as well,I hate Las Cruces anyways.
Frantic Freddie on December 22, 2006 at 7:39 PM
That was pretty…..I just wish Wolf Blintzes could have shut the hell up.
quax1 on December 22, 2006 at 7:53 PM
HDNet had the launch and landing in high definition.
And as my late Grandmother would say, God Bless America.
Zorro on December 22, 2006 at 9:21 PM
WOW
Anyone know the AOA (Angle of Attack), Airspeed, and ALT, the shuttle is at during the first 30 sec’s?
F15Mech on December 22, 2006 at 10:38 PM
Infidel4life, 90+% of a shuttle landing is done by computer.
Of course, this does not take away any of the courage of the crew to ride something that has the power of a controlled nuclear explosion into an airless, negative G, +/- 400 degree F depending on if you are in the sun or shade, radioactive environment filled with natural and man-made debris smaller than a BB traveling at 20+ thousand MPH that can hit you with a force greater than a .50 BMG round that will kill you in less than a heartbeat if you screw up.
And then, you get to ride a Mach 25 plasma fireball back home, and the slightest defect in your protective shielding will end up with you and your craft becoming a flaming pile of ash and trash scattered across half of the country…
And to top it off, you get ONE chance to stick the landing because you are in an un-powered glider that CAN’T go around for another try, so you either get it right or you crash, no questions asked…
And if they were to knock on my door right now and say, “We want you to go on the next flight…” I’d be there in a New York Second…
My Heroes have always been Astronauts…
MOMinuteman on December 23, 2006 at 1:38 AM
Awesome. I’m no pilot, but landing that behemoth (with no power) has got to be one the most difficult things a pilot can ever do.
austinnelly on December 23, 2006 at 2:11 AM
I agree with Zorro’s grandmom … God bless America!
We have a couple of ex-Shuttle pilots at SWA and they can tell some stories!
Funny, the islamists think they’re superior to us because they worship the Moon. Hey Achmed, WE’VE BEEN TO the Moon! And Muhammed was NOT there!
Anyway, welcome home, American heroes!
Tony737 on December 23, 2006 at 6:52 AM
Awesome, simply awesome.
Welcome home, Discovery!
georgej on December 23, 2006 at 7:09 AM
Spectacular
Chuck on December 23, 2006 at 7:30 AM
True true MOMinuteman.
As much as I hate Bill Nelson, he had it right ‘gliding like a rock’…yea, a rock dropped from orbit.
As they say,these men and women don’t need to prove nuttin to nobody.
Welcome Home American Heroes!
And lest we forget.
Welcome Home the Euro folks who were on the flight as well, specially that German fellow. I’m sure he was happy to come back home from the Space Station.
KeaponLaffin on December 23, 2006 at 10:05 AM
One of the crew of this flight, Capt. Curbeam, came to my son’s school a couple of years ago to talk to the kids, and we had the great pleasure of meeting him. He seems to be a very fine man.
I’m always happy when the crews land safely, but I feel a little more so this time.
juliesa on December 23, 2006 at 2:33 PM
Uh, that’s great and all, but I didn’t even know it was up there.
The primary mission of the shuttle now is to serve the ISS. The primary mission of the ISS is to give the shuttle something to do. It’s the perfect self-licking ice cream cone!
Lehuster on December 24, 2006 at 1:05 AM
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