Astronauts: $63 Million Fare Per Seat On Russian Spaceships

When my husband and I visited NASA at the Kennedy Space Center, we were surprised to see that some areas of NASA parking lot were occupied. There were quiet a few guests heading to NASA. All we thought was that, it will be a ghost attraction after thousands of employees were laid-off in NASA. At least, there were hundreds unlike before, it was by the thousands.

The shuttle program was forced to retire because it is too costly, according to the present administration. To lessen the US spending, the administration decided to cut the budget at NASA. The US President ALLOWS it to happen. The shuttle program has ended this year in BHO's administration. Thousands of skilled employees at NASA including scientists were laid off. It boomerang to the business establishments here and hundreds had closed down. Families? They lost their housing for they can't pay the mortgage. The lawn guy that we met who cut the grass in one neighborhood said, he had to find ways to support his family. Highly intellectuals in SCIENCE are now in lawn business. Heart breaking isn't it

Right now, if Astronauts had to travel to the ISS or International Space Station, they have to pay the Russian big amount of money. $753 million is the deal made by NASA to pay the amount to Russia for 12 round trips to the International Space Station.

Taking about BIG OUTSOURCING right? They should cut "other" spending not the SPACE EXPLORATION, for crying out loud!

That is almost $63 million per Astronaut. NASA has a dozen Astronauts on standby to travel on Russia's venerable Soyuz spacecraft. So sad huh? Source of this info? Visit space.com or nasa.gov.

The Final Ride of the Discovery Space Shuttle

Hubby and I woke up at 6AM and started the day early. We wanted to see the world's greatest piggyback ride of the space shuttle Discovery. We stayed on the boat ramp on our main street along US 1 just across the Kennedy Space Center area. For the naked eye, the sight of the orbiter back riding the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is really amazing.Just click on the pictures to zoom in.The view of the Indian River is truly wonderful this morning. The sunshine was hidden by the thick clouds. The weather was nice and cool but, it never change a thing.....the Discovery has retired.In this area, we are less than a hundred but, the whole parking lot was occupied. Besides, not too many people come to Kennedy Space Center to witness this big event.When the Boeing 747 left the Kennedy Space Center, it fly over Cocoa area and came back to KSC for one last time. It was flying so low and it was a surreal experience. Anyway, NASA has offered Discovery to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum for public display and also preservation. Discovery will replace Enterprise in the Smithsonian's display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. Discovery was transported to Dulles International Airport today, and will be transferred to the Udvar-Hazy on April 19 where a formal welcome ceremony is planned.

Kennedy Space Center at Port Canaveral

Tuesday Travel once again and I thank you for your comments and visit on my entry last week. Have you been to Florida? If not, you should check out Port Canaveral where Kennedy Space Center is located. We bought a new house and we are only 15 minutes away from NASA. We can actually see one of the big buildings of NASA from the main street of where we live.

Photo taken near the entrance.

This is the Rocket Garden.

Isn't it humongous? This is the Apollo/Saturn V Center. This is a spacious facility featuring a real Saturn V rocket from the Apollo program. The Apollo/Saturn V Center is a tribute to the Apollo astronauts and the machines that got them to the moon and brought them home safely.

The Rocket garden ...



The entrance...

The Assembly area...this building is where they assemble the rocket...we can see this building from the main street of where we live.

This is the viewing area ... to see the space shuttle on the pad. Well, it's just sad...space shuttles halted on this generation and on this administration. No more space shuttles ... people were laid-off from work ... businesses here are closed down. I just hope that the next President will support Science...and the projects of NASA. This is for the good of humanity. Next time, I will show you how a lively place here has turned to a ghost town.

The viewing area...

Thanks for stopping by.

The Launch of Endeavour

Much as I wanted to be there in Titusville area, just unfortunate that when you live nearby, you chose to stay indoor and watch it on TV. But, I asked my hubby that we will drive to the airport instead and saw it in 360 degree angle. Yes! We were there and we saw the last flight of Shuttle Endeavor.

Endeavour, one of two currently operational orbiters in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA. The other is Atlantis which will be scheduled to launch in June or July. Endeavour is the fifth and final space worthy NASA space shuttle to be built. It was constructed as a replacement for Challenger. It's first flight was May 1992 on mission STS-49. Its STS-134 mission was originally thought as the final mission of the Space Shuttle program but, the proposed STS-135 mission was approved therefore, Atlantis will be the final Space Shuttle to fly.Today's launch is Shuttle Endeavours last flight from May 16-24, 2011. Here's the basic facts: Endeavour has 25 total missions with 48 total crews and it deployed 3 satellites. Though the weather changed to cloudy after it lifted from the ground, the amazing few seconds lift off was worth viewing.We were at the airport and saw some guests in the Hyatt Hotel too, occupying the top garage area who were waiting for the Shuttle Endeavour Launch. The launch was quick as usual but, it's worth it.

Mao nia akong tampo karong semanaha. Ang pag LUPAD sa Endeavour nag gumikan sa NASA, Kennedy Space Center sa Florida. Anhi mo diri mga higala kay manan-aw ta sa ulahi nga paglupad karong Hunyo ha:-)