No contest Already been done

[bostosh]

The space shuttle is the first "machined-from-billet" flying machine ever.
We did it during the 1970's
all skins, all structures, 60' long billets, etc.
Accomplished with APT language, on IBM mainframes,
(yeah, hand coded, punched cards, punched tape)
This includes the machining of the outer tile contours.

Cad / Cam as known today was just a dream.

You would be impressed to see the internal structures.
After they put them into museums they need to strip the stuff to see it.

[CyberGolem]

I'm going to miss following the missions, so I hope that NASA does some justice with exhibiting these orbiters properly when the time comes to do it.

It's a great idea [bostosh] about stripping one down for internal exposure. If it were sitting next to a fully assembled one and another in the launch position with a tank & boosters... well, would be the ultimate showcase for these amazing machines.

My hats off to you and the entire NASA team for this accomplishment. It was a spectacular feat and run.

—Chaz

PS: It was always on my bucket list to see a launch in person but I suppose that will never happen now

[taylorjacob]

too bad

[themuffinman]

They are working on a new rocket system that will still punch ppl into space, it wont have wings though. Its going to be a hybrid between the shuttle and the old school rockets.

[Diggler12]

Punch people into space, huh.

[WayneHill]

Punch people into space, huh.

They could use a slingshot like "Angry Birds"

[themuffinman]

Punch people into space, huh.

Very observant of you.