Comments on: Video: Space Shuttle Discovery landing

By: Lehuster

Lehuster — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 06:05:53 +0000

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!

By: juliesa

juliesa — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 19:33:32 +0000

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.

By: KeaponLaffin

KeaponLaffin — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 15:05:34 +0000

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.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 12:30:34 +0000

Spectacular

By: georgej

georgej — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 12:09:37 +0000

Awesome, simply awesome.

Welcome home, Discovery!

By: Tony737

Tony737 — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 11:52:09 +0000

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!

By: austinnelly

austinnelly — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 07:11:53 +0000

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.

Not sure of the scientific accuracy, but there is a movie, Space Cowboys (Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones) that plays up the difficulty of flying, and landing the shuttle. Quite enjoyable if you like the Hollywood Lions of old.

By: MOMinuteman

MOMinuteman — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 06:38:57 +0000

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…

By: F15Mech

F15Mech — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 03:38:43 +0000

WOW

Anyone know the AOA (Angle of Attack), Airspeed, and ALT, the shuttle is at during the first 30 sec’s?

By: Zorro

Zorro — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 02:21:30 +0000

HDNet had the launch and landing in high definition.

And as my late Grandmother would say, God Bless America.

By: quax1

quax1 — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:53:13 +0000

That was pretty…..I just wish Wolf Blintzes could have shut the hell up.

By: Dawnsblood

Dawnsblood — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:52:50 +0000

The shuttle is safely home….

It is amazing to watch. I tried watch on Hotair.com, but the video stopped at a minute and a half. This is the youtube clip Iam linked to. …

By: Frantic Freddie

Frantic Freddie — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:39:11 +0000

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.

By: jeffshultz

jeffshultz — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:30:35 +0000

That “in cockpit” view was fantastic – Sen Nelson is right though, it does look like you are pointed straight at the ground!

By: NTWR

NTWR — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:29:26 +0000

It’s great that the weather worked out so they could use the landing pad of their choice. Bravo!

By: infidel4life

infidel4life — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:24:01 +0000

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.

By: NEMETI IN SYRACUSE

NEMETI IN SYRACUSE — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:21:16 +0000

I’ll bet I have seen 20 of these, but each and every time I see one it just gets more beautiful!

By: OBX Pete

OBX Pete — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:21:03 +0000

WELCOME HOME BRAVE ONES.
Have a Merry Christmas.