Today, Thursday 23, 2011, at 4:53:24- three seconds before the end of the day’s launching window- the final Discovery Space Shuttle took off, for the 39th time; setting off for the International Space Station to deliver supplies, equipment and a final American storage module. This takeoff being the last for the shuttle, many large crowds of tourists and viewers stood by to watch the takeoff from a distance. “The countdown proceeded smoothly into its final hour, but trouble with an Air Force tracking system computer threw the outcome into doubt. With the countdown holding at the five-minute mark, the Air Force reported a successful repair.”
This mind blowing event had most likely, a large impact on the world. Other countries outside of the U.S. probably view the successful takeoff as an U.S.A. achievement. The larger impact is on the United States, I can honestly say. The Americans must see this as a large accomplishment, that is if we here of the landing confirmation.
As an American myself, I see the successful takeoff as a great achievement, and I hope others do so too. I hope everyone aboard, including the commander, Steven W. Lindsey; Col. Eric A. Boe of the Air Force, the pilot; Capt. Benjamin Alvin Drew Jr. of the Air Force; and Nicole P. Stott, the flight engineer, Michael R. Barratt, a physician and astronaut, and Capt. Stephen G. Bowen of the Navy- are all okay. Seeing as though the shuttle is taking it’s last trip (its 39th), the joy of its return should be even more rewarding.
The shuttle is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station around 2:15 p.m. Saturday. “The new storage module will be attached to the station on Tuesday. The flight plan calls for Discovery to undock from the station on March 5 and land at the Kennedy Space Center on March 7.”
