So. It's all over. The shuttle has landed for the last time and from my perspective it seems to have been more of a wimper than a bang.
All the time it was there, not once did it pass over at night. So I didn't see it either.
I'm sure the new capsules will be capable, but honestly... They are not a proper spaceship... Rust in peace my friends, I will miss you.
On a brighter note, I'm finally off into the hills again. I've two weeks off so there will be some time spent getting out there.
I've also got some new kit to review and I'm going to run some skills posts.. It's going to be busy for a while.. :)
Thursday, 7 July 2011
STS-135.
It is not the beginning. It is not the end of the beginning. It is the beginning of the end.
It all began on the 12th of April 1981. The same year brought us the launch of MTV 
This is Archive BBC footage of the first Shuttle launch (Columbia, mission STS-01).
If you didn't know, Tomorrow (Friday 08/07/2011) at around 3:26pm (GMT), (*EDIT from Thursday evening: Due to poor weather, the launch may now not take place until Sunday) The Space Shuttle Atlantis will become the last Shuttle to go into space.
The shuttle has been around for most of my life. It inspired me as a child. At at time when a lot of people started to ask if we really are alone out there. I sat in the garden looking at the stars. I’d watch the moon chasing us in the car and I really, really wanted a ride on the shuttle (and still do. I’d go in a heartbeat). It horrified me when things went wrong (challenger in ‘86 and Columbia in ‘03).
In films, the shuttle has saved the planet from asteroids in Armageddon, rogue satellites in Space Cowboys, taken James Bond to space in Moonraker and even put a group of kids in orbit (Space camp). It did all this, with just 1MB of ram.. A toaster probably has more memory these days.
Without the shuttle, the Hubble telescope would either not have happened, be nowhere near as large. It would probably still be short sighted, even if it had made it into space.
I felt it was a small step back when Concorde was retired, but this is one giant leap back for mankind. It really affects me on a personal level. I can’t describe how sad I feel. Damm, I’m gonna be drunk for the landing..
The official NASA countdown clock is HERE:
Now. YOU!.. over the next couple of weeks, you have the chance to see the shuttle - in space. All you need is a pair of binoculars (or better - a small telescope), a clear evening and this site: HEAVENS-ABOVE. Put in your location, and it will tell you when to look, where to look and how long you should be able to see it for.
If you do manage to see it, please leave me a comment below, or give the image on my Facebook page HERE: a ‘like’. I’d love to know people from around the world are as saddened as me about the loss of this incredible machine.
Make the most of it my friends, It won’t be around for long.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
News: THE next big thing in outdoor clothing?
Have you ever heard of Jason Locklin? No? me neither.. He’s a researcher for the
He’s discovered a way to make an anti microbial treatment that doesn't wash out, even on a hot wash cycle. So you're socks will stay fresh and you should be able to whip off your shirt, wash your pits, shirt back on and into the pub.
Apparently the technology is also re-applicable, so if it’s removed by abrasion, you should be able to re-treat your clothes.
Even more interestingly but seemingly down-played, it’s stated that: "It can change a material’s optical properties—color, reflectance, absorbance and iridescence and make it repel liquids. All without changing other properties of the material.” (Gennaro Gama, UGARF senior technology manager).
How true all this remains to be seen, but if it is as good as they say, there could be a serious new player on the the market in the next couple of years.. If the tech isn’t picked up by another company…
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