The space shuttle is due to land back on earth in 30 minutes.

There have been a number of mishaps and bad luck on this mission - I hope they get back safely. It's on live on BBC News 24 now.

Fingers crossed!

I was thinking about those guys up there when I read about the first postponement. Can't be easy.

Has it landed ?

it's back in the earth's atmosphere..just waiting for an update...

yip...landed!

Great!!...........

Phew :thumbsup:

I'm pleased they are back safely.

Do you think they should continue with the existing Shuttles or is it time for a new spacecraft?

Depends who pays...I guess.
I am glad they are back safely.
I'd say they were as nervous as hell flying through the atmosphere, wondering about bits hanging off and things....
yikes.

I'm pleased they are back safely.

Do you think they should continue with the existing Shuttles or is it time for a new spacecraft?

I think they should have a new one. Even Concorde had to go...:sad:

Thank God they are home safely - I have been seriously worried about this mission for a while now.

But on SkyNews this afternoon there was a report that NASA are going to be back up in space THIS year - I hope it is in a new craft??? I certainly wouldn't want to tempt fate!

It must be a huge relief for all concerned. I bet there were "bits hanging off" Aondeag, the poor souls must have been ...... themselves.

I don't think it would be necessary to completely redesign the space shuttle as long as they can get over this foam issue, that seems to fall off like nobody's business. Whatever NASA do, it'll be expensive (landing in the 'wrong' place means it will cost them $1m to get the thing transported back to Florida) but I'd like to see the program continue as one day the future of mankind might rely on the advances made from projects like this.

Glad to hear they are all back safely.

I really think they need to rethink the shuttle.
I mean the amount of money they spend on it, but then the repairs they have been doing up in space have been with a basic home made knife taped up with gaffa tape. :ohmy:
It just reminded me of the film Apollo 13 when they are all trying to suss out how to make an air vent or whatever it was from the stuff they had on board. It's all very Blue Peterish.
You would think they would have specialist equipment up there to do repairs.

It's all very Blue Peterish.
You would think they would have specialist equipment up there to do repairs.

It is very Blue Peterish, Andrea. I remember when we went to Washington and we went to the Air & Space Museum (which was fantastic, btw) and there was an orginal shuttle that had gone to into space, can't remember which one it was but it looked as if it had been put together by kids at school. I honestly thought that's what it must have been, but nope when you read the info about it, it was the original!

Glad they got back safely, must have been a huge relief for their families but I agree with the amounf of it costs and the risk of human life, maybe they just quit while they are ahead!