Discovery takes one last ride!

[markis10]

Its a very rare sight these days to see a shuttle on a jumbo, wish I was in the Orlando or Washington DC area!

http://www.facebook.com/FlyingMagazine/posts/416750228338021

 

[nlagalle]

Its a very rare sight these days to see a shuttle on a jumbo, wish I was in the Orlando or Washington DC area!

If you're in the... | Facebook

Ive got some great shots of the shuttle atop of the 747 in our library at work.. I would have loved to have seen it!

 

[richie9x]

A video I found. It shows them attaching the shuttle to the 747. Best part is at 3:40 when 4 guys use what look like to be mops to close the landing gear doors.

[video=youtube;DdWUWZuOStc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdWUWZuOStc[/video]

 

[jukebox333]

Looks like you can watch it on NASA TV: NASA - NASA TV

 

[samh004]

Looks like you can watch it on NASA TV: NASA - NASA TV

Turned it on and it appears it’s about to land

Perfect timing!

 

[markis10]

Boeing have published a nice photo of the fly by:
Space Shuttle Discovery flying by Boeing office in Virginia | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The T38 chase plane went fuel critical near the end!
Check out this video on YouTube: Shuttle Discovery Lands at Dulles - YouTube

 

[UP4014]

Discovery Fly Past on it's way to Washington

747 and Space Shuttle do a fly past.

BBC News - Shuttle Discovery retires with Washington flypast

Space Shuttle Discovery flying by Boeing office in Virginia | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[Nigelinoz]

Re: Discovery Fly Past on it's way to Washington

Fabulous landing video,one I will certainly be downloading to keep.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[docjames]

A video I found. It shows them attaching the shuttle to the 747. Best part is at 3:40 when 4 guys use what look like to be mops to close the landing gear doors.

ISTR that they fall by gravity (and not powered down) but I am happy to be corrected. Plus no need to have capacity to retract in-flight (they only get one shot at landing!).

 

[markis10]

ISTR that they fall by gravity (and not powered down) but I am happy to be corrected. Plus no need to have capacity to retract in-flight (they only get one shot at landing!).

Nope, they have bungee assist and a pyro boost for deployment and can retract but only on the ground using hydraulics!

http://www.spaceshuttleguide.com/system/landingdeceleration_system.htm#Landing_Gear_Doors

 

[docjames]

Cool. I guess free-fall is a "backup"!

 

[markis10]

Enterprise took a final ride yesterday giving the folks at IAD and JFK as well as NYC a rare sight to catch

Space Shuttle Enterprise departing Dulles IAD on 4/27/12 - YouTube



[video=youtube;GCRE0Aj1YqA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCRE0Aj1YqA&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]

 

[jamesatfish]

I went and saw Enterprise in it's second-to-last resting place yesterday - the temporary enclosure on the USS Intrepid museum in NYC. Amazing piece of engineering - seeing it in person is both inspiring and deeply depressing that they don't fly them anymore.