Crew:
CDR: Rick Sturckow
PLT: Kevin Ford
MS1: Patrick Forrester
MS2: José Hernández
MS3: John "Danny" Olivas
MS4: Christer Fuglesang
MS5: Nicole Stott (Up)
MS5: Timothy Kopra (Down)
This is Discovery's 37th mission to space and the 30th mission of a space shuttle dedicated to the assembly and maintenance of the ISS.
Rollback of the rotating service structure is planned for 5 a.m. Monday, and fueling of the external tank is scheduled to begin at 4:11 p.m.
Shuttle Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters forecasts a 70 percent chance of favorable weather for liftoff and fueling.
BEG2IAH
[Edited 2009-08-21 19:20:14]
Use of approved electronic devices is now permitted.
TheSonntag From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 3347 posts, RR: 30 Reply 3, posted (3 years 9 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 6788 times:
Fuglesang wrote a nice book in swedish about his first time in space. So far, despite some issues, the preparations for this mission went very quietly. Lets see if they launch on time.
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3247 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 9 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 6674 times:
Patrick AFB Launch Weather as of 0700EDT 23 Aug:
Probability of KSC weather prohibiting launch: 20%
Probability of KSC weather prohibiting tanking: 40%
Primary concern(s): Lightning within 5NM during tanking, cumulus cloud, showers within 20NM of the SLF
Synoptic Discussion: An upper level trough is deepening in the Eastern US. Southwest flow over Central Florida will cause convergence along the east coast with a late afternoon sea breeze, and the west coast sea breeze will also migrate toward the east coast causing late afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Monday, the upper level trough will weaken allowing the ridge to move north over the Central Florida area. Surface winds will shift southeasterly and steering flow winds for convection southerly; therefore, afternoon storms should develop west of the launch pad along the sea breeze and migrate north. Upper level winds from the southwest will cause anvils to migrate toward the coast. Some storms may be close enough to cause lightning within 5NM near tanking time. Thunderstorms in the area should dissipate into the evening hours, and by launch time, there is a slight chance for showers in the area. Our primary concerns for launch are cumulus clouds within 10NM of the launch pad and showers within 20NM of the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF). For Tuesday and Wednesday, the Bermuda High ridge will migrate north, and easterly flow will be prevalent. As the easterly flow persists, coastal showers will be the main concern for launch.
Pretty much as good as it gets for Florida in August....
Legal considerations provided by: Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe
Tiger119 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 9 months 15 hours ago) and read 6559 times:
I dumped my satellite dish service and only have cable, and the only regret is that I do not receive NASA Television. Does anyone know if any American cable networks (or "Over The Air Networks") are going to carrying it live? If they do, I will stay up to watch it tonight (0136 Cape time 08.25.2009). Good luck crew and teams involved.
David
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to mankind, landing is the first!
- That works, thank you. I saw the schedule and I hope this video streaming goes back and forth from different views. This is neat, I just wish I was down there in person to witness this. I have been there for a launch and I made a promise to be there before they shut down this fleet. How close can you get to the Pad39A and B? Do they (NASA) have dedicated areas for photographers?
David
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to mankind, landing is the first!
HaveBlue From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2069 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (3 years 9 months 4 hours ago) and read 6440 times:
Quoting Tiger119 (Reply 10): How close can you get to the Pad39A and B? Do they (NASA) have dedicated areas for photographers?
Where the public can go to watch the launch is about 5-7 miles away from the pad. 2 of my uncles work there and back in the day they could give me a pass to get a little closer if they chose not to use it. I do photography for a living but to get much closer you'd have to have a media pass and I'm sure be approved by NASA. The really close cameras are remote cameras sound activated not manually operated.
That being said from the Daytona Beach area where I live (Port Orange) you can see the launch shortly after liftoff and on good days and any night see SRB seperation and tumble, and from US1 directly west of the launch pads a very outstanding view, and that's where I've seen a few of them from. Even where I live (probably 35 miles line of sight) you can hear the rumble of the takeoff 4-5 minutes after it happens, if its quiet enough here at home.
JoseKMLB From United States of America, joined May 2008, 493 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 9 months 4 hours ago) and read 6434 times:
Now they are giving it a 40% chance for launch due to weather and lightning in the area. I'm in Melbourne and can see alot of flashes off the coast here. It does not look good for launch tonight as of right now.
Tiger119 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 years 9 months 3 hours ago) and read 6429 times:
Quoting HaveBlue (Reply 12): to get much closer you'd have to have a media pass and I'm sure be approved by NASA
- I'm sure there is a fee for that media pass as well.
Quoting JoseKMLB (Reply 13): Now they are giving it a 40% chance for launch due to weather and lightning in the area. I'm in Melbourne and can see alot of flashes off the coast here. It does not look good for launch tonight as of right now.
Quoting BEG2IAH (Reply 14): Weather is 60% no go. I hope that cell dissipates soon.
- You guys beat me to it.
- The cell looks pretty small considering it is August in 2009. Do you think they would put the launch clock on hold and wait or will they scrub it all together?
- They just gave it a go for probe retraction.
Let's go to space kids!
David
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to mankind, landing is the first!
Tiger119 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 9 months 3 hours ago) and read 6426 times:
-20.00 and they are on a set hold. They are almost finished locking down the "Hatch" and then start getting ready to shut down their (insertion crew) platform. This coverage on NASA TV is quite good, better than I thought it would. Good job.
David
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to mankind, landing is the first!
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19700 posts, RR: 56 Reply 17, posted (3 years 9 months 3 hours ago) and read 6422 times:
Quoting Tiger119 (Reply 15): Do you think they would put the launch clock on hold and wait or will they scrub it all together?
ISS flights only have a ten minute window, so they can't do a lot of holding - if the weather isn't good at launch time, they have to scrub.
EDIT: Ok, it's as good a time as any to ask this, since it's been bugging me for a while: what's the difference between the OTC, NTD and Launch Director? I know what the acronyms mean, but I'm very confused as to what their responsibilities are.
-Mir
[Edited 2009-08-24 21:40:59]
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
JoseKMLB From United States of America, joined May 2008, 493 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (3 years 9 months 3 hours ago) and read 6406 times:
Just got word that the storms are breaking up and a slight chance that it will be good for launch but still have to keep the fingers crossed and hope for the best.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, RR: 40 Reply 23, posted (3 years 9 months 3 hours ago) and read 6389 times:
I am following the launch live on NASA TV there seem to be other problems besides the weather? Some pressure problems? Some weather still in the red with lightnings? Is there going to be enough time for the weather to clear in time for launch? This seems rarther complex this time. Let's see what happens. Better they keep safe.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
30 Sudden: No go for launch!!! Weather related. Aim for the sky! Sudden
31 BEG2IAH: See you guys tomorrow. 1:10:22 am EDT BEG2IAH
32 MadameConcorde: When I saw all the rain I had a feeling they would have to stay on the ground. Better be safe than sorry. They will give it another try tomorrow about
33 Mir: GLS cutoff, and that's it for the night. Weather just wouldn't dissipate fast enough. -Mir
34 MadameConcorde: The Shuttle looks beautiful on the pad all lit up in total darkness. I wish I could pick up an image of it but NASA has disabled recording.
35 Tiger119: - Sudden, isn't there a Swedish astronaut on this mission? - I'll be here - Too bad for the crew, both going up and those on the ground. But I totall
36 JoseKMLB: Rather it be a scrub now and hope for better weather to view it and not lose it in the clouds.
37 MadameConcorde: They ran out of time before the thunderstorms were able to dissipate. So it is tomorrow a new launch attempt at 1.10 and 22 seconds. Oh and I will be
38 Sudden: Indeed my friend, indeed. Krister Fuglesang is Swedish. It's not often I feel that I have a specific reason to be proud of Sweden, but just like b
40 MadameConcorde: I rarely envy anybody in this world. I envy those lucky few who are chosen to do the EVAs though. It must be quite amazing to be working up there in t
41 Nomadd22: Many years ago someone asked me if there'd ever been anyone I'd swap lives with. The only person I could come up with was Story Musgrave. Here's hopi
42 MadameConcorde: I really want to get to KSC to see one of the next coming Shuttle launches. My idea is some time in 2010. Have to plan on staying around more days aft
44 ZANL188: Scrub!! Reluctant fill & drain valve...
45 Cadet985: Seems like NASA has fuel valve problems quite frequently.... Marc
46 Tiger119: Watching the coverage now, just turned it on, are they going to a 48 hour delay? Sounds like it, the guy at the podium is talking about a valve proble
47 HaveBlue: As it stands right now it's a 48 hour delay, which will be okay if it's a sensor problem. If it's a mechanical problem it won't go then obviously.
48 MadameConcorde: I am sort of late... slightly overslept the supposed "launch time". By very little though. I was unwell. Plugged me on NASA TV and saw there were no
50 MadameConcorde: When have they scheduled the next launch attempt? Have they come up with a new date/hour?
51 BWilliams: Friday the 28th, 0022 EDT // 0422 GMT
52 MadameConcorde: I was just looking at NASA Space Shuttles page and then came back here. This is the latest update they have. Is 12:22 am 12 noon or is it midninght b
53 Boeingfixer: 22 minutes past midnight on Friday morning which is 00:22 if using the 24hr clock.
54 BWilliams: Isn't the 24-hour clock supposed to PREVENT this ambiguity? As Boeingfixer said, this is the night between Thursday and Friday, at 22 minutes past mi
55 MadameConcorde: Thank you for making this clear. I am so used to the 24 hours clock that it made things very confusing the same as I am still amazed that in the 21st
56 MadameConcorde: Looks like they have postponed the launch again. Latest Space Shuttle News Our launch postponement news conference now will be at 4:30 p.m. EDT. �Th
57 ZANL188: Launch is on for tonight.. Probability of KSC weather prohibiting launch: 40% Probability of KSC weather prohibiting tanking: N/A Primary concern(s):
58 Sudden: Less then 6 hours to launch. I will be setting my alarm clock, again. If they are not launched before Sunday, they will have to wait until October. So
59 ZANL188: Just picked up the count at T minus 3 hours. Crew should be leaving for the pad shortly.
60 ZANL188: Crew doing the perp walk now enroute to the pad.....
61 MadameConcorde: Looks good this time. Weather is 100 percent GO! No technical issues. Shuttle Ship looks beautiful on the launch pad!!! [Edited 2009-08-28 20:49:04]
62 Sudden: Watching NasaTV as well, are we? All systems go for launch. GO GO GO....................... Aim for the sky! Sudden
63 Runga08: woo hoo!!! Go Discovery!!! (NASA Commentator got it wrong... )
64 MadameConcorde: NASA TV on Real Player..; wonderful images! 5 minutes to launch Have a great flight you all.......
65 Mymorningsong: HDNet now live on shuttle countdown.
67 MadameConcorde: See them on the live tracker! http://www.n2yo.com/?s=35810
68 Tiger119: For some reason I thought David Wolf was on this mission. I had NASA TV on my computer and the feed was about four minutes delayed. My partner was fli
69 MadameConcorde: Tried to spot them from my windows while they flew over Italy and Greece but they are too small to be seen and the day is bright already. Tomorrow ear
70 Tiger119: Over The Indiana Ocean (if this one website is correct). - Disregard, it was the last mission that went up in July. David
72 ZANL188: Nice shot. Did you get any with the hydrogen flare in the background? How about your remote cams?
73 GDB: Great stuff; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8228089.stm
74 BEG2IAH: How did you get access to the VAB roof? I plan to see at least one launch and will need your help with picking the best spot. It would be cool to hav
75 MadameConcorde: I want to go too and see a Shuttle launch before they close down. Although from yesterday's post launch press conference they seem to think that they
76 BEG2IAH: Discovery just docked to the ISS. BEG2IAH
78 Sudden: Great video and audio right now as the crew is preparing todays work together with Houston. Aim for the sky! Sudden
79 MadameConcorde: So far a very nice mission. Too bad their flyovers are at such weird hours in the middle of the night right above here. I envy those Space Walkers. Ms
80 Sinlock: Discovery looks all set for her de-orbit burn at 5:59pm tomorrow landing at 705 at KSC. Hopefuly the weather works out.[Edited 2009-09-09 19:00:35]
81 Sudden: It's been a successful mission so far, and I will be in front of the TV and Laptop to follow the re-entry and landing. Aim for the sky! Sudden
82 ZANL188: First landing opportunity waved off for weather. Second opportunity would result in a landing at 840pm EDT with a deorbit burn at 735pm EDT. Forecast
83 ZANL188: Discovery waved off for today. Try again tommorrow. KSC Landing Opportunities for tommorrow: Deorbit burn Landing 445pm EDT 548pm EDT 621pm EDT 723pm
84 Sudden: While we are waiting, Does anyone know of any website where I can see how the shuttle looks from the inside? Not just the flightdeck as I know how tha
85 Sudden: Both have been waved off at the moment ot typing. Aim for the sky! Sudden
87 Mymorningsong: Deorbit burn underway for Edwards landing.
88 Fsnuffer: I wish NASA would not "blackout" the communication between the orbiter and Houston just prior to reentry interface. I watch NASA TV just so I don't ha
89 Mymorningsong: Loud sonic booms in Santa Monica, CA.[Edited 2009-09-11 17:50:01]
90 Acey: Relatively unfamiliar with shuttle ops, what's up with the gear coming down only a few seconds before touchdown? That's enough time to confirm that it
91 BEG2IAH: At the time main landing gear is deployed orbiter's speed is about 300 knots (345 mph) and its altitude is approximately 250 feet. Up to that point o
92 Vikkyvik: Very loud down here in Redondo as well. Didn't know the shuttle was landing here tonight, and was very surprised by a loud bang outside. Much louder
93 Mir: Let's say it's not down and locked - you're still coming down on that runway. Might as well save putting it down for late in the game and keep the or
94 Braniff747SP: Lound boom here in LA! I had no idea... CNN showed pictures of it landing. Happy contralis!
95 ManuCH: This dog didn't like the sonic boom... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzQ0_Tctyb8
96 BEG2IAH: Since I strated this thread with some stats, just wanted to add this in the end... Landed: Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, 08:53 p.m. EDT Landing Site: Edward
97 CURLYHEADBOY: Nothing technical, but this is so far the most scenic Shuttle landing I've watched, the thin layer of clouds gave a clue of the awesome speed at which
98 JoseKMLB: When is she due back at the KSC on the 47?
99 Seefivein: STS-128 is on it's ferry back to KSC now, soon to leave Amarillo Intl (KAMA) and headed for Carswell Field Arpt (KNFW)
100 Dragon-wings: When the shuttle gets ferried back to the Kennedy Space Center why does it make so many stops? I always wondered about this.
101 Revelation: Wiki says: Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttle_Carrier_Aircraft It also says the SCA has some special instructions on the shuttle mounts:
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I am going to check out the weather radar for The Cape.
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