Woooow.... We don´t have that in Sweden I can tell you !!

I remember watching it on TV. What a spectacular launch. Too bad they're shelving it. The space shuttle was supposed to be a work horse and it certainly did that but the cost was, in one respect, prohibitive. I also remember seeing the very first shuttle named Enterprise sitting atop a converted 747 on its way to the Smithsonian. End of an era. A shame really.

Listen to an interview today with (Ret) Captain Robert Crippen. He piloted the first shuttle flight in 1981. He expressed disappointment that NASA is abandoning the shuttle program with no other way to send its astronauts into space. You can listen to the interview using this link.

http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2043485140

Wow. That's awesome, man

During my life, I've seen Sputnik, the space race, the Apollo, Gemini and the Shuttle programs. 

I've seen science fiction become science fact... triumph and tragedies along the way. While I was watching the last shuttle launch today the countdown paused at 31 seconds and so did I. I paused a moment to remember all those tied to the space program whose last day, flight, launch or mission came before today.

How fortunate I've been to have seen all this.... and how I wonder what is to come?

Good pics, I.D.  

While its sad to see the shuttle go, but its understandable. NASA has not contributed anything worth while in many years, instead just focusing on that stupid space station and spaced based telescopes while ignoring the real priorities.

I am glad you got to see this in person, I never got to see a live shuttle launch and now I never will.

Unbelievable that the US don't have a replacement for the Shuttles.

It was an icon ...  when you think of Space you think of the American Space Program and the Shuttle.

Sad days 

they do...

Still.  It is the end of an era.

Do you mind if I use those for my desktop background? Those are great pics!

I've only had the privilege to see one launch in person. Unfortunetly, it was the Columbia mission that didn't come back.

Ditto.

side note - I wish I had the foresight to decide to plan a vacation around this.  You saw history in the making. 

Wish I did too. I was born around the year the first one went up. Hope I make it at least one year past the end of it.

The really amazing thing is that every day is history in the making... some of it more momentous (or so we think) at the time. But this day happened because eons ago someone sat down and tried to figure out a better way to throw a rock or a stick. Then to make it sharper, go faster, farther, etc.

I hold on to the fact that America will get everything fixed and we'll eventually see a return of space flight and NASA. I just hope it's in my lifetime.

I dunno about fact, but it would be nice to see us pick up that awe and gusto and combine it with a return to a kick ass attitude of can-do!