How are you feeling on the eve of the return to flight?

[ascan1984]

Hi Everyone<br />I was just thinking about the return to flight. How do you all feel on the eve of it. For me I feel that after all this time the launch is less that 24 hours away. however there is a greater sadness. The happiness at the return to flight seems to have been overshaddowed by the previous mission STS 107. It is hard to let go and move on but I am looking forward to tomorrow. I just hope it all goes well. I feel the need to watch some of the old reports on February 1st 2003 I taped.<br /><br />Ad Astra per asphera<br /><br />Gareth<br /><br />

 

[lunatio_gordin]

Well, i thought everyone was excited, but after my recent experiencethat must not be so.<br /><br />While sitting in the dentist's office, they had on Sirius satellite radio. the DJ came on and started talking.<br />"Ok, well, i guess i've been watching the news too much recently or something. But it's seems like everythings a hyperbole. Everything's overhyped. Everything's a 'Disaster'. Okay, that london thing, that's a disaster, but on all the news, 'space shuttle launching 2 years after disaster.' What... oh..." *pause* "makes me furious. Another set of songs..."<br /><br />and that's it. I almost jumped out of the chair when he said that. how can he possibly be so ignorant? ah, well, i must admit we here at SDC tend to paint ourselves as saviors of the race by carrying our species to the stars, which, while true, is probably a bit of an overstatement. But here is a man that is allowed to broadcast to millions of people who clearly knows nothing of any substance outside his song library...

 

[tap_sa]

<font color="yellow">" I just hope it all goes well. "</font><br /><br />Ditto. In addition to the succesful mission itself I hope the Internet NASA TV can take the beating without glitches because it's the only means I can watch the launch live!

 

[rocketwatcher2001]

All systems GO!, but I'd still like to be there. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

we can sneak in the payload bay. might be a bit bumpy, and then there's always what to do when they open the doors, but hey. <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Doesn't seem real yet. Seems like ages and no time since the last launch. Very surreal.<br /><br />Going to be a fun and tense day tomorrow!

 

[kane007]

Got butterflies.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Can't sleep.<br /><br />Might just write a whole load of related stories, Made a self-imposed plan to not ask any more questions of the guys I know involved in the launch, just to wish them all the best and let them get on with it.<br /><br />I also hope there's not too much pressure on everyone. For Discovery to launch on the first attempt would be amazing, but after two and a half years, we shouldn't expect it as a given.

 

[john_316]

<br /><br />fire up those engines and lets have us a rocket ride...<br /><br /><br />

 

[mah_fl]

I fear something bad will happen, especially as its the 13th when they launch. But I love watching the missions, especially the EVA's.

 

[lunatio_gordin]

hm, i get the feeling that on their inspection, they'll see something that's probably safe but they don't like, so they'll end up having to rescue them anyway. but i hope not, and i know they won't take that decision as lightly as i just put it...

 

[Leovinus]

This flight will go ok tomorrow. It's the ones that are 30 or 40 flights away when it all becomes "routine" again that you have to worry. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[vogon13]

Just as nervous as can be. On SDC trying to distract. Keep checking here though.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

I'm excited. It's been too long. I am rather pragmatic about '107 now. No mistaking it was a very great tragedy, but it's a risky business and all Astronauts know that better than any of us. It's time to be bold and brave again.<br /><br />This day seems to be dragging like a mo-fo though. I can't wait to get home tonight and start the viewing. The thing I am most looking forward to is all the extra coverage we will be getting of the trip uphill. It is going to be great to see all these new views of ascent. I think Discovery will get away tomorrow morning, I have a good feeling about it. Weather will be the most likely kill-joy I reckon.<br /><br />Sorry you weren't able to make it across for the launch, SRTF. Flamin' terrorists.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[frodo1008]

Both exited AND nervous!! SO much so that this is a very short post for me!!

 

[vogon13]

NASA TV had a press conference on this. It was on my TIVO so I don't know if it recorded today, Monday or Sunday. What I recall is they have added more cameras. Upgraded several existing cameras (High definition!) and have some cameras from Air Force on trucks that are repositionable.<br /><br />Also they have used CAD tools to examine ascent trajectory to 51 degree (or 59, whatever ISS is) to adjust placement of cameras. There is at least one (maybe 2) cameras at 60000 feet on some RB-49 (IIRC big wing Brit recon plane) downrange watching ascent.<br /><br />Also, more cameras on vehicle. ET has a camera and radios back pictures during ascent. SRBs have cameras and video recorders that will be retrieved for playback after launch.<br /><br />NASA expects coverage to SSME shutdown.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

The ET cam was last seen on STS-112 (Atlantis) and was amazing. However, they lost the picture on SRB Sep, so I hope they have that sorted now as it was an amazing view up to then.

 

[rvastro]

I cannot explain how I feel. I guess the best would be nervously excited. Time to load the car...

 

[SpaceKiwi]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>I'm not sure how many of these will be feeding the coverage, and how many are saving data for analysis, (and possible release later?)<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Yeah, I'm probably taking a little bit of a guess at that. But, given the overwhelming interest in shedding, etc, I'd be really surprised if there aren't additional views of ascent made available pretty quickly after launch, if not as part of the coverage.<br /><br />And, as the camera's chap said in his overview of the new cameras being supported for this launch, he was only commenting on NASA's new sites. He expected huge amounts of additional coverage of ascent from the news organisations as well. So, I'd say there will be plenty of new looks for us all to enjoy from early on in the mission.<br /><br />(Especially if a news organisation thinks they see something falling off. NASA will be fast to jump on speculation with their own footage if that should happen.) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[gladiator1332]

I guess I am feeling several emotions, I feel a lot of pride in what NASA has been able to accomplish in the last 2 years in getting this thing back off the ground. Sure we criticize them, and question their every move, but what it all comes down to is, we want to see that Shuttle lift off tomorrow and come down safely. <br /><br />I'm also feeling a little anxious and nervous, I guess this is a normal feeling before a flight such as this. I know I will be breathing the biggest sigh of relief once I hear that Discovery has made it into orbit. <br /><br />GOD SPEED STS-114!

 

[rocketwatcher2001]

RV-<br /><font color="yellow">Time to load the car... </font><br /><br />Rub it in, rub it in. Well, I hope it goes well, even if I can't be there. Pretty soon I'm going to have to change my name to empty-launchpad-watcher. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[lunatic133]

I am both nervous and excited of course. It all seems sort of unreal for me. I remember back on the day of the Columbia disaster, I said that by precedent there probably wouldn't be another launch until 2005. 2005 seemed *so* far away back then. I'm glad we're finally getting back into space. I just hope that it works ... and that they DO it already!<br /><br />I think I'll go read Harry Potter some more. I always read Harry Potter when I'm nervous, excited, or horribly impatient. It's kind of tradition. *reads*

 

[thecolonel]

I have not posted on SDC in quite sometime, but its nice to see alot of familiar faces still around. Its also very reassuring to know that we are all sharing the same sorts of feelings on the eve of the launch. Can't wait for tomorrow. Best wishes to 114 and her crew.

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Hey Colonel, I remember you, good to see you back! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Hey lunatic, have you got your RTF plastic bracelet thingy on? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>