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richinny · 10-14-2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkill

Feels wrong that the shuttles are now museum display pieces. I worked on the program for 22 years and though I know it was crazy expensive to operate, it's a shame that it ended (manned space) as it did. Every time I speak with one of my NASA counterparts they apologize for not having a better plan in place... I'm just thankful that the shuttles aren't being hacked to move into their resting places.
Laura
1989-2001: Lockheed/USA - Payload Mechanical Engineer
2001-2005: Boeing - Flight Crew Systems & Structures Engineer
2005-2012: MDA - *Robotic Arm* Engineer

i appreciate the inside info. and i'm glad others can see up close just what a fantastic feat it is to get these things into space.

but....

while not a devout tree hugger i think the things done to get it to the museum are over the top and not appropriate to do in this time of slashing budgets.

400 trees to be cut in LA to make room for shuttle - Video on NBCNews.com

garry · 10-14-2012, 06:12 PM

I was working for RCA on NASA contracts in the 60's & 70's..

Near space satellites OAO, OGO, NIMBUS, GEOS, ATS and many others.

Lots of deep space shots I can't remember all the names

I did not work on manned space shots but NASA did put a man on the moon.

Everything was Made in the USA.

Today our astronauts are shuttled to the international space station by the Russians.

What's tomorrow going to bring????

slowmover · 10-20-2012, 11:11 PM

Since sending men into space was -- and is -- more of a stunt than anything else as robots are what make sense, it probably won't ever matter. Easier to re-design a machine to endure Titan and then Venus than it ever will be to bio-engineer something even vaguely human to do the same. Getting out the gravity well won't be happening.

The robots will probably have TOYOTA stamped on them. After the Chinese buy the rights to the name. And it's outsourced to the Indians. But some Russian brothers (Klick, Klack & Karamazov) will be the slave-monkeys at L-5 doing the work sub-contracted to their low bid.

.

noreen&sal · 10-21-2012, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dznf0g

I'll tell you of one guy who cares. My Dad. Still living...will be 93 in December. His Destroyer lies just off Okinawa.
I remember him telling me as a child of a newspaper article shortly after the war in which a Japanese muckity-muck of some sort said that they had lost the battle but would win the war...not with guns, but with the dollar...and we let them!!! All of us.
Americans have very short memories.

I do not have a short memory. I refuse to buy a Japanese import. Sal.

TG Twinkie · 10-21-2012, 07:42 AM

I have owned Toyota trucks since the mid '70's. Back in the cab and chassis days. I currently own an '85 Toyota Long Bed pickup with 300,000 miles on it. The box (made in the USA) is nearly rusted away. The cab is in good shape for a 27 year old truck. I bought the Toyota new, it is still a very dependable truck.
I am looking at new trucks now. First in line is the Tundra; next would be a Ford F250; then Dodge. I would not by a GM ( government motors) under any circumstances. Had a bad experience back in the '70's with GM and haven't forgotten it.
My current TV is a Dodge 2500 long bed extended cab with a 360 V8. It was made in Monterey, Mexico.
If one were to look under the hood, you will find that there are parts from every corner of the globe installed in your vehicle. The GPS is probably made in China, the radio is probably made there as well, even if it says Sony on the front. The electronics that control the wireless systems (ie throttle pedal) etc are all made overseas. Ford, GM and Chrysler all have one model or another with Japanese engines and transmissions.
It's a global economy.

Gene · 10-21-2012, 09:43 AM

If you don't want to buy a vehicle made by a company headquartered in a country we were at war with at some time, or the vehicle was made in that country, these are all I can think of now: Japan, Germany, Mexico, Great Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Iraq, and many more. You could count India and Australia as they were colonies of G. Britain when we had 2 wars with GB, and Canadian troops fought against us in the War of 1812. China and Russia are ok though. I'm not sure about Iran, but we haven't had a formal war with them.

And if you don't want to buy from a company that was helped by the feds, that also includes all the corporate tax breaks to Ford and the managed bankruptcy of Chrysler. I had a really bad '85 Toronado I inherited and a pretty good '72 Chevy pickup. Companies can change for the good as well as bad.

Gene

vswingfield · 10-21-2012, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

If you don't want to buy a vehicle made by a company headquartered in a country we were at war with at some time, or the vehicle was made in that country, these are all I can think of now: Japan, Germany, Mexico, Great Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Iraq, and many more. You could count India and Australia as they were colonies of G. Britain when we had 2 wars with GB, and Canadian troops fought against us in the War of 1812. China and Russia are ok though. I'm not sure about Iran, but we haven't had a formal war with them.

...

Gene

You forgot an important one in that list of countries we've been at war with, Gene, the North.

All the surviving North American auto companies are headquartered in blue states forcing those of us from gray states to support those aggressors. Even those companies have plants in the south, though. My F150 was built in Virginia.

noreen&sal · 10-21-2012, 10:53 AM

Everything stated by Gene and Vaughn is true, but in my case you just can't teach an old dog new tricks. Sal.

jgerardi · 10-21-2012, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aviator

The Ford F150's are produced at the Rouge River plant in Detroit. I toured the plant the past summer and watched them rolling down the line.

The tour at Rouge River is incredible. It made me proud to be an American and determined to make Ford 150 my next tow vehicle. (As soon as my dodge Hemi wears out!)
Joe G

Gene · 10-21-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vswingfield

You forgot an important one in that list of countries we've been at war with, Gene, the North.

All the surviving North American auto companies are headquartered in blue states forcing those of us from gray states to support those aggressors. Even those companies have plants in the south, though. My F150 was built in Virginia.

Thanks for reminding me. I should never have bought the Tundra since it was built in Texas by rebs. Some are made in Indiana now and for my next one, I'll have get to one of those.

These colors for states get confusing. Blue was north, but now it is Democrat. Red was communist, but now it is, very strangely, Republican. At least my Tundra is blue, not grey.

Gene

Road Ruler · 10-21-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

The Tundra that towed the shuttle was stock.

Towing 300,000 lbs. for even a short distance from a dead stop is quite a feet for any truck. It was tested for the job with more than twice that weight.
Gene

It does say something. For someone who has to add a little extra grunt or stress to the truck for a short time it probably won't hurt it.

noreen&sal · 10-22-2012, 03:52 AM

I'm not trying to start anything, but what hitch did they use? Sal.

CanoeStream · 10-22-2012, 06:38 PM

San Antonio -- my home town -- is home to THE large 2nd generation Tundra factory. Toyota sponsorship by the California Science Center is something else entirely. Not that I see any Tundra featured hitched in the following video ... but that has got to be the world's most capable slimp wheel! You could fake towing this with a Smart car.

Astronomy Picture of the Day for Oct 22, 2012