If memory serves, an earlier conception of the shuttle program included two configurations: one (smaller) to launch people, one (larger) for cargo. It mutated into the one-size-fits-all, money sucking design.

This current fight is about a change in contractors. It’s going to leave us with nothing.

Mind you, having a reuseable orbiter, a spaceplane component is cool too. I love the shuttle too – I just wish it was more like what was originally hoped for and expected rather than what we got.

Grew up reading SF and imagining things like the shuttle or like spaceships such as Enterprise. Perhaps unrealistic but any and all steps towards those sort of craft fill me with hope and longing.

Ares and Orion the whole Apollo redux idea is great -I just want to see progress being made once again because for the past three or four decades since Apollo 17 Human spaceflight has been going nowhere boldly. Yes, the space stations like Skylab and the ISS, the space shuttles and perhaps the start of some some private space programs eg. Spaceship Two are something, yes they’ve achieved a lot such as launching Hubble and more people than ever into orbit.

But somehow its not quite enough. We’re missing the “going further” and “seeing people on new worlds” factors.

Returning the Moon – especally for long durations with a base being built there – is worthwhile and I’d love to see it happen but I was really hoping to see Humanity land on Mars and on some near Earth asteroids in my lifetime. I really thought we’d be achieving that within twenty or thirty years after Apollo. I thought we’d have gone so much further.

Its not just one administration or side of politics or NASA leadership group that’s failed to do this these past few years. Its all of them & both sides of politics. Its time, overdue in fact, that we revived some momentum
when it comes to space exploration.

Ares,is a good start – or restart really. I’d like to see plans for more beginning to get taken seriously. I’d love to see the “beyond” part take shape and for us to pick up the pace and ambition as far as sending Humans to new places within our solar system.

So good luck and best wishes to them all – but, please sirs, can we have some more and soon!

In regards to the free iPhone app you are talking about, you can see a timer for the STS 129 mission by going down the list to the space shuttle option on the front page. So both countdowns are available at the present =)