Emergency Egress Slidewire Baskets Released for the Final Time

At Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the seven slidewire baskets travel down to the ground for the final time after being released by technicians from the 195-foot level. The system of seven slidewire baskets at launch pads A and B provided an escape route for astronauts and personnel inside the orbiter or on the orbiter access arm. The baskets are suspended from slidewires that extend from the pad's Fixed Service Structure to a landing zone 1,200 feet to the west. Each basket could hold up to three people. A braking system catch net and drag chain slowed and then halted the baskets sliding down the wire at approximately 55 miles per hour in about half a minute.

[Bluenoser]

They totally should have rode those down.

[beakz]

Bragging rights would have been way more epic if they'd gone along for the ride :) Would have thought they would have had a competition or something to ride the side for the final time.

[Enatbyte]

That must have been a pain resetting those things in the past. Those things were awesome.

[ABitOfTheUniverse]

"...for the Final Time" ... it's like losing old friends, knowing things at NASA are being decommissioned, shut down and retired. Gives me a strange sense of sadness in the back of my neck that I just can't explain.
I'm desperately awaiting the rebirth of the phoenix that has inspired me my entire life. It's warmth was felt around the world, which is getting colder each year.
Come back, NASA. Rekindle our dreams. Please.

[dpbeard]

Damn Kim! I actually teared up watching that. Great job.

[Lastindependentthinker]

How sad, I never got to ride in one.. :-(

[ilsccjokr]

Kim told me about this video and I'm glad he did!! It was awesome!

[Gjjk]

You're blaming the wrong president.