Museums scramble for retiring space shuttles

by Sean McLachlan on

NASA has set the date for the last Space Shuttle launch at February 26, 2011, and as an era comes to a close, museums around the country are fighting to get their hands on one of the retiring vessels.

The Space Shuttle Discovery is earmarked for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum. It has graciously agreed to give up the shuttle it already has–the Enterprise, which was used for testing but never flew into space. Besides the Enterprise, Shuttles Atlantis and Endeavour will also be available for museums.

The scramble for a Shuttle has not always been polite. A total of twenty-one institutions in almost as many states are competing for them, and Congressmen from Florida and Texas tried to get wording put in NASA’s latest funding bill that would give their states preferential treatment. The House Committee on Science and Technology rejected that move.

What museums do you think should get a shuttle? Give us your vote in the comments section!


Photo of the Space Shuttle Atlantis taken from above courtesy of NASA.

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk – Atlantis Launch, Wakeboarding, Seaworld, & Magic Playoffs!

by Stephen Greenwood on

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk, episode 18 – Click above to watch video after the jump

In our last Orlando installment, we showed you the retired side of life in Orlando – and now we’re going full throttle.

Because Orlando is famous for its theme parks, we discuss the biggest, best, and most bizarre theme parks around the world. We’ll tell you where you can pay to wear a gasmask and ‘experience communism’, drive tractors, and who holds the title for the most rollercoasters in one park.

As we explore Orlando’s adventurous side, we head to Titusville for a live Shuttle launch, teach Stephen how to wakeboard, ride roller coasters at Seaworld, and witness our first NBA playoff game. Enjoy!


If you have any questions or comments about Travel Talk, you can email us at talk AT gadling DOT com.

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Links
Actually want to experience survival drama for yourself? Visit Europe’s strangest attraction!
There’s only two more shuttle launches left! Find out all the details on the remaining launches from NASA.
Thinking of picking up wakeboarding? Read these beginner tips first!



Hosts: Stephen Greenwood, Aaron Murphy-Crews, Drew Mylrea
Special Guests: Nathan, our wakeboard expert.

Produced, Edited, and Directed by: Stephen Greenwood, Aaron Murphy-Crews, Drew Mylrea

Music by:
This Holiday Life
“Mission Control to My Heart”
myspace.com/thisholidaylife

NASA red-faced after Space Shuttle hangar cocaine find

by Scott Carmichael on

Finding contraband is usually reserved for the airport, but this week, NASA is dealing with its own aviation incident. NASA officials are scrambling to discover the source of a small bag of cocaine found in a Space Shuttle hangar.

The bag was found by one of the 200 people holding a permit to be inside the area, which obviously narrows down the number of people on the list of suspects.

The find is especially embarrassing because the hangar is on the base where a Shuttle launch is scheduled for next month. Obviously, the idea of cocaine making its way into orbit is rather frightening, as is the idea that someone with Shuttle access credentials may be a cocaine user.

The Kennedy Space Center has a zero tolerance policy on drugs, and officials have started drug tests on its workers, and drug sniffing dogs are searching the area for more clues.%Gallery-76818%

Airplane passenger catches Space Shuttle launch on camera

by Scott Carmichael on


I recommend turning the audio down on your computer if you plan to watch this at work, or around children, as the narrator tends to swear a lot.

Here is a video of something you don’t see every day out the airplane window – the launch of a Space Shuttle. The video was captured by a passenger on Air Canada flight 981 from Toronto to Nassau, and shows the Shuttle right after take off, on its way into space.

Thankfully, someone on the plane used the PA system to tell passengers about the launch, though I’m sure the 50% of people on the wrong side of the plane were pretty miffed they missed this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.%Gallery-76818%

ALSO: For up-to-the-minute news on possible new TSA rules resulting from Friday’s foiled terrorist attack, click here.

NASA focused on commercial space travel

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Crossing oceans isn’t enough for you? Well, NASA is working to scratch the most extreme of travel itches. The organization is putting $50 million of economic stimulus cash from the feds into putting the average traveler into space. Companies eager to develop a commercial space vehicle have 45 days to submit their proposals, and the winner will be announced by the end of September.

The program comes at a time when NASA is drastically changing its approach to space. After seven more missions next year, the space shuttle fleet is going to be retired – with the final touch being the completion of the International Space Station. Then, we’ll be outsourcing our space travel to Russia, with U.S. astronauts hitching rides to the space station. Cargo will be shipped to this extraterrestrial spot – 225 miles from Earth – by rockets and capsules being developed by SpaceX and Orbital Sciences.

So, commercial space travel appears to be the key to getting the United States back into the game. Some big names have shown some interest in building the vehicles, including Boeing, Retro Aerospace, Davidson Technologies and Emergent Space technologies.