Space shuttle makes final departure from space station

Source: MSNBC

...
As a final salute, the space station rotated 90 degrees to provide never-before-seen views of the complex. The shuttle and its crew of four flew halfway around the station, cameras whirring aboard both vessels to record the historic event.
...

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43803573/ns/technology_and_science-space/

This is not only a great loss, but also a significant milestone in the self-induced disintegration of the United States.

has been.

American Exceptionalism? We R number won!

right.

I began an aerospace career on Space Shuttle in Downey, where Columbia had already left but the basic structures for the Crew Module and Aft Fuselage of OV-099 Challenger was just being installed onto the holding fixtures for fitting out ... My career and the career of the STS followed similar paths ....

We were highly disappointed when Lockheed's Space Shuttle successor was selected above Rockwell's X33 ..... It was part of Rockwell International's demise ....

Before STS there was Apollo ..... After STS will be Constellation/Orion .... Elon Musk at Space X is making great strides with Falcon/Dragon .... I understand Boeing is teaming up with Bigelow and others to follow a similar path as Space X ....

But alas .... All good things come to an end ..... It was a great run at over 30 years ..... Time to move on ....

When a Teabagger is elected in 2016, we will cut off payments to the Russians for rides and America will be Earthbound for a long, long time.

despite all the problems, it was a magnificent program. i loved watching launches on tv, and had the honor of personally viewing two launches at KSC. It feels very very sad to see the mission end. :cry: