They plan to take the space shuttle back to Florida Thursday....

That's probably the only way it will fly again

Ummm, its a piggy-back on top of the plane, I'm pretty sure, but it'd be quite the site either way.

I guess you are right... I remembered seeing it but i guess I remembered wrong.  Here is a picture of it in flight ... http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0308/shuttle747_nasa_big.jpg 

Here is some more information on how they do it... http://www.edwards.af.mil/archive/2002/2002-archive-piggyback.html

Frankly I'm happy not to get jolted out of bed by the double sonic booms. It's not something you can ever get used to.

I was reading somewhere that they tip it off when it gets there, and it makes the landing on its own.  I don't know if that is true because I also read that they drained all the fuel to prepare it for the flight. 

That's the configuration they used when they first designed the shuttle (don't you remember? )

They used explosive bolts to release it in order to do the glide tests during it's design.

I don't know if that is true because I also read that they drained all the fuel to prepare it for the flight.

It doesn't fly under power on the way down, it just glides. I believe the last time they fire any engines is prior to re-entering the atmosphere.

Yes. I'm proud of the achievement.

Yeah... I hope the space program picks up.  I think we need the dreams.

How much control can something that heavy have in a glide?  How long a glide does it take?

I would love to see the Space program continue too. I just hope they will get a safer and more reliable form of transportation. I saw a picture of a new model. It looked alot like the Appollo models.

How much control can something that heavy have in a glide? How long a glide does it take?

It glides from the moment it enters the atmosphere to landing.

How much control can something that heavy have in a glide?

I think the astronauts' nickname for the shuttle when it enters the atmosphere - "The Flying Brick" - just about sums it up

"The Flying Brick" - just about sums it up

At least it didn't end up with the monicker 'Lead-sled' or 'Thud' ....the Republic F105 got those ones....

The shuttle glide ratio is pretty ordinary, hence its high landing speed....about double that of the Jumbo....and that looks like an ungainly lump as it is....

Well, once they enter the atmosphere and glide to a landing they have a long path to glide.  But how far away from their final landing spot do they dump it off that plane?  Seems like the calculations would have to be even more precise.  That's probably not one of the astronauts in there at this point, right?  Some technician must have that seat.  And what if one of those exploding bolts didn't work?  Seems like there is some risk to the plane that does the carrying.  Those are two seats that I wouldn't want to have.  I hope they get good pictures when this all happens.  I heard it might be delayed until Saturday.

The shuttle glide ratio is pretty ordinary, hence its high landing speed....about double that of the Jumbo

   o.. that must mean that they will be very near the landing site when they dump it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9006422/  There she goes!  It's going to fly at 1500 ft. at 300 miles an hour.  The article has a nice video of it in flight and taking off as well as the route it will follow.

This little craft will next be used in March.