SteveDoten

I'm down here in Cocoa Beach, FL doing some C6 HUD installs

There is a Corvette parade on Sat.

Anyone going?

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/...tronaut-parade

0Ganley Aurora

post some pics for us when you get home!

garage-ghost

I second that.

peter pan

Third that

SteveDoten

Scott Carpenter was there, mostly stock C5/6's, only a few nice C2/3's

very small turnout

cor28vettes

That turnout would have been totally different in the early 60's. Now they train in Russia. Who would have predicted that?

RetiredSFC 97

the Hot Rod Power Tour starts 06/04 in Cocoa Beach. they actually have a cruise planned that will take people through the space center grounds IIRC.

jrose7004

You'd have thought that it would have been a big event.

baxsom

Damn, I live right here in Cocoa Beach and I totally forgot about. Both the C5 and C3 are down right now but still, I would have liked to have went.

Jet-Jock

I would have went over if I knew. Don't get the Florida Today paper over here, and my relatives didn't say anything about it.

That's a shame it was a low turnout. Of course we have poisoned the mere thought space exploration with the onset of liberals controlling things in Washington since '06.

Hopefully it will be turned around in '12.

RedSoxFan

Right on.

dangerz

Stopping the Space Shuttle program != ending space exploration. We actually have more funding for deep space exploration than ever and had an increase in that budget. There's no point in spending millions for what essentially is a taxi. By ending the Shuttle program, we can focus on things that will benefit mankind more - like a trip to Mars or maybe even a base on the Moon. Companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic have proven that they have what it takes to get us up there, so let them focus on the taxiing.

.. but of course, I wouldn't expect you to do your own research to find that out. It takes a brain to do that.

RetiredSFC 97

With brainiacs like you, why research it! It's more fun to read BS posts like this.

dangerz

Ya, I only work at the Kennedy Space Center. What do I know?

edit: I decided to do the math for you so you can't make these stupid claims anymore.

NASA's budget for 2011 is $18.5 Billion [1]. "but dangerz, that's $240 million less than last year. See, you're wrong, I'm right, you're dumb!". Sure, if it wasn't for the fact that the Shuttle program accounts for ~30% of NASAs budget. Now that the Shuttle program is ending, where do you think that 30% will go? Ohhh.. I know! Space exploration.

Without a doubt, the Shuttle program has provided a lot for mankind. Technologically, we would be nowhere near where we are right now if it wasn't for that. What's worse than the program ending, though, is ill-informed people like yourself acting like it's the end of Space Exploration. That discredits all the other amazing work that NASA has done and is currently doing. What about the Mars Rovers? What about the new Rover? What about Cassini? What about freakin Voyager? Oh did you forget or not even know about those?

Anyway, that's enough of my rant. I just wanted to set the facts straight.

[1] http://www.space.com/11411-nasa-2011...n-funding.html

slvr bulit

I was down there on vacation. Saw a lot of vettes as I drove past would have liked to stop but the beach and wife were calling my name. Maybe next time

baxsom

You cant swing a dead cat around here without hitting a c4 or C5. I have to agree with the post about the budget being bigger than ever. I get to see the paperwork.

SteveDoten

I'll post some pics this week when I download the pics and get this back on track

On another note; took a tour of 1000 islands in CB, the boat driver has a '98 and was in the parade, very cool

dangerz

One of my favorite parts of Florida. If you get a chance, take a kayak out there too and do some of the kayak trails. Lots of awesome wildlife and very peaceful.

Jet-Jock

The programs you referenced are not new programs and are not a part of manned-space flight. Cassini is a spacecraft probe for solstice program. It is enroute and next contact will be Titan in June. It doesn't complete it's mission until 2017. Same with Voyager. Mars rover is a very small program, in-comparison to the entire NASA picture.

We have a multi-billion dollar space station that we have pretty much handed over control and "taxi duties" to the Russians. In it's original design it would have provided in-space launch abilities changing long range space flight since you don't need a vehicle to escape the earth surface first. It would have operated as a base for transitions to/from the moon whether that be for mining and exploration or other reasons.

The Shuttle program could have been useful for years to come. But that's over now. The brain drain will happen. The Constellation program was killed by obama. What I said is still valid, the democrat liberals have been against NASA and the space agencies for decades, and since taking control of congress and the executive office, they have cut the programs. The truth is, even though the budget is for 18.5 billion, which is 240 million less than last year (2010), NASA and the experts state that "NASA will have to make do with what they have...", and "NASA has been in survival mode... running on continuing resolutions..." remember the democratically controlled congress and executive branch did do a budget last year and we still don'tn have a budget for this year. Now that Republicans are in control, there is headway on a budget. But NASA is still operating on a continuing resolution. They have no idea what is in store for them. And my optimism was after 2012 the situation will improve for them once this radical socialist liberal is removed from office. Once we have a congress and a stable minded President with goals and a vision for the future, then we will have a pro stance towards space flight and NASA.

The facts are, the liberal American's would rather increase food stamps and welfare then fund NASA to create good paying jobs and provide business to the local areas wherever they operate.

Before you decide to attack me again, we came to Cocoa Beach in late '58, my father was one of the original engineers there, (and was there until the Shuttle program began where he retired and died thereafter) and I witness not only the entire central Florida area grow up from dirt roads in Cocoa Beach and no sewer, to darn near every program NASA operated on the space coast. I've witnessed the rise and fall of the space coast with every program that ended and new one that began. In addition to aeronautical degrees and much of my life dedicated to that, but I digress.

My point is still valid and still stands.


The liberals put funding limitations and with the new Republican spending measures it lifts those restrictions. I haven't seen recent numbers but for the past decade Shuttle which was the main stay of NASA accounted for about 26% of their total budget. Just as well, the current budget only provides 3.7 billion for exploration. About 4.5 billion goes to science, a half billion goes to aeronautics and space research, about 6.2 billion for space operations, another 3 billion to cross agency support, and another half billion for construction and environmental compliance. If I'm not mistaken, the shuttle exists under the space operations budget.

Sadly this all hi-jacked the original post. It's too bad there was such a low turnout. It use to be a big deal for Cocoa Beach and the Cape to have the astronauts in a parade, and Corvettes were always a part of the picture. In fact Jim Rathsman Chevrolet once was a big sponsor of astronauts and their Corvettes.

cor28vettes