Huntsville updates

[jmanhsv]

^ALDOT has two projects in the Huntsville area that are "ready-to-go" once federal funding is available, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. One is the overpasses on the Parkway at Max Luther and at Sparkman, the other is the 53/255 interchange. However, that doesn't mean they'll be part of the stimulus package.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by luvinhsv

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081218/ap_on_sc/space_shuttle

Isn't the US Space and Rocket Center a Logical Choice for one of these? Not sure how they could afford it, but what is the affiliation with the center and NASA? Isn't it part of NASA? I really don't know...

Seems I heard they were going to try and get one which they should.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Seems I heard they were going to try and get one which they should.

This would be HUGE for the S&R Center if this happens. This would really boost attendance there. Then they could take the model laying sideways and build a replica of the launching pad that the real one sits on and have it stand straight up. Then replace the model with the real one. But they will need to acquire more land to make this happen. Unless they were to put the model upwards in the old place of the Saturn V location at the back of the complex.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

^ALDOT has two projects in the Huntsville area that are "ready-to-go" once federal funding is available, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. One is the overpasses on the Parkway at Max Luther and at Sparkman, the other is the 53/255 interchange. However, that doesn't mean they'll be part of the stimulus package.

Old Madison Pike at Indian Creek has to be part of it too and I don't care if Obama, ALDOT, or Tommy Battle himself get it done.

[jmanhsv]

The Old Madison Pike project is on the US Conference of Mayors' "wishlist" of projects, but that one has a lot less chance of ever making it into a bill before Congress. Waaaaaaay too much pork... I doubt a polar bear exhibit at the Providence, RI zoo will create jobs and save our economy- might save some bears though. Plus, not all cities are included in it-- the only Tennessee cities that have projects on there are Cleveland, Germantown, and Jackson.

But the link I posted above gives a good insight into what the city government, more specifically the Battle administration, has on its wishlist for when money comes available. I'm interested to see what the $2.9M "Courthouse Square Improvement Project" is.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Does anyone know the status of I-65 Tennessee River Bridge weather monitoring system? I've been seeing the mounds of gravel on the side of the road immediately before and after the bridge. I'm wondering if these might be future locations for electric display boards for warnings and stuff. I know that this project is supposed to be underway, but I never see any work being done.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

This would be HUGE for the S&R Center if this happens. This would really boost attendance there. Then they could take the model laying sideways and build a replica of the launching pad that the real one sits on and have it stand straight up. Then replace the model with the real one. But they will need to acquire more land to make this happen. Unless they were to put the model upwards in the old place of the Saturn V location at the back of the complex.

article in today's paper dealing this very subject, cost makes it impossible but
they hope to get one somehow, I imagine the Smithsonian will be another
location.
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/1229681732160470.xml&coll=1


That's $36 million for the preparations and another $6 million for the flight on top of NASA's special 747 to get it safely to an airport in the United States, according to a NASA news release.

"We don't have that kind of money and to be able to do that kind of fundraising effort in this economy is unrealistic," Al Whitaker, spokesman for the Space Center, said Thursday.

After all, it took the center nearly 5 years to raise about $22 million to refurbish its Saturn V rocket and build the new Davidson Center for Space Exploration, $20 million less than what NASA wants for a shuttle, Whitaker said.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

article in today's paper dealing this very subject, cost makes it impossible but
they hope to get one somehow, I imagine the Smithsonian will be another
location.
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/1229681732160470.xml&coll=1


That's $36 million for the preparations and another $6 million for the flight on top of NASA's special 747 to get it safely to an airport in the United States, according to a NASA news release.

"We don't have that kind of money and to be able to do that kind of fundraising effort in this economy is unrealistic," Al Whitaker, spokesman for the Space Center, said Thursday.

After all, it took the center nearly 5 years to raise about $22 million to refurbish its Saturn V rocket and build the new Davidson Center for Space Exploration, $20 million less than what NASA wants for a shuttle, Whitaker said.

Here's what I'm thinking.

1 to Kennedy
1 to Johnson
1 to Smithsonian Air and Space @ Dulles.

[gkcooper]

Originally Posted by neilson

Here's what I'm thinking.

1 to Kennedy
1 to Johnson
1 to Smithsonian Air and Space @ Dulles.

The Smithsonian already has an orbiter, the Enterprise. Marshall did a lot of work on the STS and deserves an orbiter.

This will be a moot point anyway after Obama defunds the CLV and Ares/Orion. The shuttles will remain flying to service the ISS, so there will be none in any museum for years to come.

[mlog]

I was driving west on Brown's Ferry Road today and was pleasantly surprised to see the I-65 interchange work proceeding nicely. It looks like they're close to pouring concrete.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by gkcooper

The Smithsonian already has an orbiter, the Enterprise. Marshall did a lot of work on the STS and deserves an orbiter.

This will be a moot point anyway after Obama defunds the CLV and Ares/Orion. The shuttles will remain flying to service the ISS, so there will be none in any museum for years to come.

3 shuttles are being retired for good in a couple of years to be replaced with new ones. I don't see how Obama has anything to do with what NASA decides to do with their own shuttles. I do believe that if tourism continues to improve with the opening of the new Davidson Center that NASA will work a way for Huntsville to get one in the end. It would boost tourism to an all new high. Maybe even double or possibly triple attendance.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Huntsville better get one. My grandfather always talks about how he helped work on those things. It would kill him if he found out that Huntsville was overlooked.

[gkcooper]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

3 shuttles are being retired for good in a couple of years to be replaced with new ones. I don't see how Obama has anything to do with what NASA decides to do with their own shuttles. I do believe that if tourism continues to improve with the opening of the new Davidson Center that NASA will work a way for Huntsville to get one in the end. It would boost tourism to an all new high. Maybe even double or possibly triple attendance.

If the shuttles aren't retired, we won't get one. Obama has repeatedly stated that he plans on defunding the CEV/CLV. What don't you understand?

[neilson]

Originally Posted by gkcooper

If the shuttles aren't retired, we won't get one. Obama has repeatedly stated that he plans on defunding the CEV/CLV. What don't you understand?

He better not defund Missile Defense or else Huntsville's gonna be damn angry. We want our rockets and our missiles.

[gkcooper]

Originally Posted by neilson

He better not defund Missile Defense or else Huntsville's gonna be damn angry. We want our rockets and our missiles.

He has repeatedly been quoted for being in favor of cutting all "Unproven Missile Defense" funding. Slowing the development of future combat systems, etc.

[huntsville_rocks]

"change"

[HSVTiger]

Coming in 2009, Mayor Battle wish,

"Launch a search for a professional urban planner who works exclusively on planning and zoning issues. The current planner oversees those functions along with engineering, inspection, community development and sewer. "This would be a stand-alone person," he said.

Battle said his vision is to have a planner who will help the city adopt so-called "smart codes" that govern development and help implement a new downtown revitalization plan that protects historic neighborhoods but is more flexible for high rises and mixed-use development. "

[SpawnOfVulcan]

So far, all that he's suggesting sounds really good. I'm hoping that he'll be a fan of getting that downtown height ordinance improved. Obviously, we don't want to damage the ambiance of the historic areas, but it seems ridiculous to prevent downtown from blossoming.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by neilson

He better not defund Missile Defense or else Huntsville's gonna be damn angry. We want our rockets and our missiles.

Like I said before there are a lot of wasteful government jobs in Missile Defense it could use some cuts. There are some people doing useful jobs and a lot of work but I know tons of people working on the arsenal and other places that do absolutely nothing at work. Over 100 billion dollars has been spent on Missile Defense so far. If we can just get rid of those jobs and let the real engineers continue developing the system we will be fine. I'm not selfish enough like most people seem to be to only care about the field they work in. People in Huntsville seem to care only about defense spending (because it benefits them and Huntsville so much) It's amazing how hypocritical people can be sometimes especially since most people in Huntsville hold political views that are against wasteful government spending but are for it only when it benefits them personally. If he does implement cuts that effect Huntsville but the country's economic situation overall improves then oh well its not like most engineers won't be able to find jobs in other places in an improved economy. I doubt most of the country will care about Huntsville losing some jobs. I'm for whatever is best for the country even if Huntsville suffers, but either way nobody knows anything for sure for now its just all speculation, venting and bitterness over the election results. I personally think Huntsville will be fine with all the BRAC jobs coming and their apparent lack to be able to attract enough people from other cities willing to make the move to Huntsville. Missile Defense is too far along to cut it completely anyway.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Like I said before there are a lot of wasteful government jobs in Missile Defense it could use some cuts. There are some people doing useful jobs and a lot of work but I know tons of people working on the arsenal and other places that do absolutely nothing at work. Over 100 billion dollars has been spent on Missile Defense so far. If we can just get rid of those jobs and let the real engineers continue developing the system we will be fine. I'm not selfish enough like most people seem to be to only care about the field they work in. People in Huntsville seem to care only about defense spending (because it benefits them and Huntsville only) Its amazing how hypocritical people can be sometimes especially since most people in Huntsville hold political views that are against government spending but are for it only when it benefits them personally. If he does implement cuts that effect Huntsville but the country's economic situation overall improves than oh well its not like most engineers won't be able to find jobs in other places in an improved economy. I doubt most of the country will care about Huntsville losing some jobs. I'm for whatever best for the country even if Huntsville suffers, but either way nobody knows anything for sure for now its just all speculation, venting and bitterness over the election results.

With that kind of talk, you could be referring to NASA too. There are a lot of contractors and subcontractors out there working hard while the Civil Servants get a bum rap sometimes.