seven.13 Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 CNN) -- The space shuttle Atlantis roared in orbit Monday afternoon, bound for the international space station with seven astronauts and the building blocks of the first railroad in space. The 11-day mission to the space station was delayed from Thursday when a fuel line ruptured and spewed flammable hydrogen hours before launch. NASA technicians repaired the line over the weekend. And while strong winds threatened to postpone the launch again Monday, the conditions remained calm enough for the shuttle to blast off from the Kennedy Space Center off shortly after 4:30 p.m. EDT. Atlantis should dock with the space station Wednesday, after which shuttle astronauts will conduct four spacewalks to install a variety of expensive pieces of hardware. The main one is a squat, three-dimensional, metal trapezoid replete with electrical wires, cables and computers. The $600 million truss will enable future research and construction projects on the expanding station. The 44-foot (13-meter) long, 13.5-ton structure will have railroad tracks attached to it. In the future, a railcar will shuttle the station's robotic arm, allowing it to grasp and move massive pieces of equipment around the modular outpost. Atlantis is bringing the first railroad segment along with the $190 million railcar. The track is slated to eventually stretch more than 360 feet (110 meters). Designing the first railroad for the harsh conditions of space has been no easy task, said NASA engineers. "These rails will run in temperatures far hotter than any desert and far colder than any mountain," said Tom Farell of NASA's Johnson Space Center in a statement. Moreover, "we've done a lot of work to make certain it can't jump the tracks ... during all the station's activities, like re-boosting its orbit or having visiting vehicles dock." The shuttle will also carry along scientific experiments. One known as the Photosynthetic Experiment and System Testing and Operation, or PESTO, could lead to better space food. The wheat growth project, which will remain on the station at least two months, could help scientists determine how to grow grains in space, raising the prospect of astronauts baking their own bread. The research "will provide important knowledge necessary for future interplanetary travel," said NASA project manager David Cox. etc etc etc Heres the article on CNN I thought the little animation was pretty cool... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slersky Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 I just did a report on this at school this morning, it's crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seven.13 Posted April 9, 2002 Author Share Posted April 9, 2002 http://europe.cnn.com/interactive/space/0204/space.railcar/pop.space.railcar.gif'> http://europe.cnn.com/interactive/space/0204/space.railcar/pop.space.railcar.2.gif'> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigguy Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Now thats a mission! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukeofyork Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 why do i feel like playing with legos suddenly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaesthebluntedwonder Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 remember folks, pick up your cans when youre done..and dont go over the numbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracked Ass Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 Yeah, and keep an eye out for "snags" that could tear your space suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sectr Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 oh golly gosh ! alll the more reason so make a commercialized mission into space. :idea: Who will be the first to hit the space train !!! Somebody will do it....eventualy. Ohhh wow, just the thought makes me dRooL, can you imagine the flix!! Ba, BLing !!! he he he he he heeh eh eh e...nice :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KRYLON2~ Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 Originally posted by chozer why do i feel like playing with legos suddenly? rite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern kid Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 inky..i've been trying to email you. drop me a line...i have some business to attend to. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beep Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 whats up people!! long time no type. ink, how did the crew get together go? and how ya been southern? holla at me chozer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jus Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 say good bye to dripps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seven.13 Posted April 10, 2002 Author Share Posted April 10, 2002 Southern, I'm about to run off to school, but ill write you from there or tonite! im sure i can work what you need out ;) Donald...everyone is low on funds and we havent all met up yet..haha soon...soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HAL Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 I don't think paint would work well in space. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaesthebluntedwonder Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 INK i got your pack, it was very nice and i appreciate it bvery much...send thin caps next time tho :crazy: :crazy: :p i willlll try and pput somethin together for you this week but im too drunk right now PEACE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PISS ONE Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 Originally posted by HAL I don't think paint would work well in space. :rolleyes: space paint? someone create it, quick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taco bell bomber Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.T Boy Posted April 11, 2002 Share Posted April 11, 2002 dude, i like got up on that last year. shit is played already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigguy Posted April 11, 2002 Share Posted April 11, 2002 duuuude.... were's my car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracked Ass Posted April 11, 2002 Share Posted April 11, 2002 Originally posted by HAL I don't think paint would work well in space. :rolleyes: Yeah, there'd be a number of technical problems, like your cans exploding in a vacuum. You wouldn't make it out of the air lock without some awkward ass safety containers. Actually, you could let ALL the pressure out of your cans (at 1 atm. pressure) before floating outside, and they'd still spray in a vacuum, because you'd have the leftover 1 atm... Maybe people had better stick to insides till we get these things ironed out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigguy Posted April 11, 2002 Share Posted April 11, 2002 you can use that tiny bit of pressure as a jet pack to travvers to new spots. "Yo im going to bench jupiter...." Dont give away your spots! Whole moon? "Yo you see that Cope astroid?" "Ya man caught it in the milky way." DA da ddddddddddddaaaaaaaa daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.( 2001 space oddesy.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destruction by Definition Posted April 12, 2002 Share Posted April 12, 2002 Originally posted by bigguy you can use that tiny bit of pressure as a jet pack to travvers to new spots. "Yo im going to bench jupiter...." Dont give away your spots! Whole moon? "Yo you see that Cope astroid?" "Ya man caught it in the milky way." DA da ddddddddddddaaaaaaaa daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.( 2001 space oddesy.) thats some funny shit to think about...it made me laugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoofTopKilla Posted April 12, 2002 Share Posted April 12, 2002 hehehe why do i feel like playing with legos suddenly? i'll say word to that!!!!!!!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest montanaman Posted April 21, 2002 Share Posted April 21, 2002 theyll create space buff..... next.... and iim glad i have my cosmo violet with me too..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.