Atlantis final touchdown..happening now!

[Greg McDonald]

For those interested, Atlantis's final touchdown is being telecast live NOW...touchdown 25 minutes away...

http://www.news.com.au/technology/sci-tech/live-shuttle-landing/story-fn8yv4j6-1226090800876

[Andrew M]

Not long to go !

http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv

[Alexander.L]

For the last time welcome back atlantis!

[Grahame Hutchison]

A perfect landing to end an amazing shuttle journey from Columbia to Atlantis over 30 years.

I remember watching the first Shuttle (STS-1) landing at Edwards Air Force Base on the 14th April 1981, with John W Young at the controls. Definitely one of my heros, John Young flew on Gemini, Apollo Command & Service Modules, Apollo Lunar Module and the Space Shuttle. As commander of Apollo 16, John was the 9th man to walk on the moon, and his career at NASA spanned 19 years.

Well done Atlantis.

[Paul McFarlane]

I have been following this mission since 5 hours before lift off (don't tell work!) and I was never going to miss last night! I was luck enough to show my 21 month old son the shuttle on it's very last orbit ever as it passed to the south of our place at about 1835CST. He looked up and pointed to the shuttle as it raced across he sky and shouted "Rocket!". It was a very nice moment.

It still amazes me that I watched it pass over here in Mount Gambier and less than an hour later it is on the ground at the Kennedy Space Centre.

The Shuttle program has been ground breaking and has changed the way we look at space flight. After watching this mission every day, I can say I have never been more proud to be an Australian who knows a Canadian who knows and American!:)

(and yes can we merge this with the other Space Shuttle thread...)

[Bob C]

Hi Grahame

Great memories indeed.

On a wall in my study, I have a framed copy of Time magazine's cover dated 27 April 1981 with the heading "Right On ! Winging Into a New Era" superimposed over a photo of the first shuttle returning to Edwards Air Force Base after its very first test flight. The pilots were John Young and Bob Crippen.

Hopefully, Time will do a similar cover to commemorate the end of an era.

I also have the "Age" and "Sun" newspapers from July 1969 commemorating the first landing on the moon and will frame the covers one day.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Great stuff Bob, I was doing my trial HSC when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. I remember watching the moon walk live on TV between exams, and then watched more when I got home that afternoon.

Your comments about Time Magazine inspired me to dig out what I have from back then. Below are a few scans from Airextra Magazine issue Number 23 - Space Shuttle Special Issue.

Front Cover
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/STS-1 Airextra 001.jpg

Inside Front Cover
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/STS-1 Airextra 002.jpg

STS-1 Mission Profile
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/STS-1 Airextra 003.jpg

John Young and Bob Crippen as they suit up a few hours before launch
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/STS-1 Airextra 004.jpg

Recovery of the solid rocket boosters
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/STS-1 Airextra 005.jpg

Back Cover - John Young flying a practice approach with backup Astronaut Richard Truly in the Northrop T-38. The five days later
Columbia touches down after a successful mission
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/STS-1 Airextra 006.jpg

[Grahame Hutchison]

This was the Sydney Morning Herald "Man on The Moon Colour Souvenir" from the Apollo 11 Moon Landing (August 30th 1971)
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/Apollo 11 001.jpg
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/Apollo 11 002.jpg

[Nigel C]

This link is apparently the Discovery's cockpit.

http://360vr.com/2011/06/22-discovery-flight-deck-opf_6236/index.html

[Lee G]

Check out http://www.atapattu.net if you want to see some truly amazing shuttle photos.