The Other Pathfinder

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Hotdog
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The Other Pathfinder

Post by Hotdog »

I had no idea this thing existed. What if the Japanese had taken this orbiter for their expo back in the 1980s and restored it instead?

http://blogs.airspacemag.com/daily-plan ... e-mock-up/
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Post by Benji »

Wow, I didn't know it existed either. That's a really interesting story, I hope they find the funds to restore and display it. Letting visitors climb inside would be awesome!
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Re: The Other Pathfinder

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They're moving the orbiter, but tearing down the building. This was in the Wall Street Journal yesterday

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000087 ... 32514.html
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Re: The Other Pathfinder

Post by p51 »

I'd known of this for many years, as I knew someone who taught English in Japan and had gone to see it. She said it was quite amazing.
I can't imagine how many copies of the shuttle there were ever made. Heck, I'd read that that all the shuttle trainers at Houston were gone, but that's BS. I saw a cockpit trainer (with full outside) sitting among their other trainers at Johnson Space Center just the other day. I can't imagine what they'd still need with it...
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Re: The Other Pathfinder

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I was hoping JSC would give those shuttle trainers to Space Camp (logical and most awesome conclusion) but they are sending them off to sit in public museums instead. I guess they are considered "too historical" for the wear-and-tear they would get from the daily use at Space Camp. But how inspiring would it be for kids if they got to sit inside "the real thing" used by the real astronauts??
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