STS-114 Mission Update Thread (Part 3)

[najab]

Continued updates and discussion of the preparation, launch, mission and landing of Shuttle <i>Discovery</i> on the STS-114 mission to the International Space Station.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Just a TV update for the UK coverage of the launch. (All national channels below):<br /><br />Full pre-launch coverage on BBC News 24 and Sky News Interactive from around T-3 hours.<br /><br />Launch live on Sky News, BBC News 24, ITV News. Phoned Channel 4 and 5 and they are looking at potentially cutting into their schedule at T-1 minute (30 second introduction - I've composed and emailed a script for that on their request - then NASA TV coverage).

 

[haywood]

Thanks NajaB.<br />Number 2 was getting a little "long in the tooth".<br />Now, onwards and upwards!<br />I hope to be sitting here next Saturday watching an EVA.

 

[shuttle_rtf]

We'll keep an eye out for you when NASA TV show some shots of the LCC. A quick wave at the camera would be appreciated <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[haywood]

Where is the sound on the Web Feed of the Mission Status Briefing!!!!?<br />

 

[llivinglarge]

Why isn't Atlantis being prepped for an emergency launch at pad 39-A?

 

[bpcooper]

Atlantis is being prepped for a possible emergency launch and STS-121 at the same time. It rolled into the VAB yesterday to begin mating to the booster stack.<br /><br />Atlantis cannot roll to pad B until Discovery is gone; pad A is currently undergoing refurbishment and will not be ready for use until 2006. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[emerrill]

And let the countdown begin!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

Things look good. hope we make it.

 

[SpaceKiwi]

And, the count has begun again! My rough calculation makes this a 2:39am launch on Wednesday morning for the Kiwi SDC'ers. Like an AB's test from the UK, except better. <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]

Sorry news, I of course understand where you are coming from, but I was making a New Zealander-specific comment about local timing for us and thought it was appropriate in this instance.<br /><br />I'll give you a chocolate fish and 'honourary Kiwi' status if you can name the AB acronym though. <img src="/images/icons/wink.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>

 

[ltm_se]

<i>"By Monday or Tuesday, a Sahara dust outbreak, or a cloud of what originally was African sand carried across the Atlantic on the back of a tropical wave, is expected to settle over the region for about 12 hours, forecasters said."</i><br /><br /> Giant dust cloud takes aim at Florida<br /><br />Could this affect the shuttle and/or countdown related activities related to the launch on tuesday?<br />

 

[lunatio_gordin]

the article from the AP said it was benign, so i don't think it should...

 

[halman]

SpaceKiwi,<br /><br />I still don't understand why the 12 hour clock is being used in so many places. Digital clocks make displaying 24 clock easy, and 24 hour clock is so much easier to understand. (Personal peeve. Forgive me.)<br /><br />Does AB stand for Atom Bomb? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

I like 24 hours, too. I also write the date 23 July 2005. make smore sense. <br /><br />anyway, back on topic.

 

[lunatio_gordin]

Well, for one, I'm having trouble changing to metric. Mainly because i don't really have an idea of how much a KG is. Or how high a meter is. I only know a meter is about 40 inches tall. and i think that's the basic problem here in america.<br />anyway...

 

[redgryphon]

AB stands for All Blacks, the NZ national Rugby team.<br /><br />Do I get a chocolate fish?<br /><br />Oh...and, er... T minus 34 hours 48 minutes and counting.

 

[ltm_se]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Well, for one, I'm having trouble changing to metric. Mainly because i don't really have an idea of how much a KG is. Or how high a meter is. I only know a meter is about 40 inches tall. and i think that's the basic problem here in america.<br />anyway...<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />I belive its the same here in europe. Maybe its a conspiracy of the pocket calculator industry?<br /><br />A Question about the orbital planes and launch windows: I know the longitude where ISS crosses the equator changes on every orbit but how is that calculated? Is it (360/24) + (360/365) degrees of "drift" compared to earth?<br /><br />

 

[ozspace]

I'm with you Kiwi, now that I am back in OZ us Southerners can get the cocoa (or brandy), rug over the knees (winter down here) and warm up the PC for late night spaceflight action!<br /><br />

 

[halman]

shuttle_guy,<br /><br />At what point in the countdown will the sensor problem rear its ugly head? Will they wait until T-minus 2 hours to scrub? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[bushuser]

Or will they change the flight rules to 3 sensors out of 4?<br /><br />[seems that would have been announced ahead of time if it was going to be changed]

 

[SpaceKiwi]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Do I get a chocolate fish?<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />red, shoot me a PM with your snail and I will see you get your confectionary agnatha. Let it never be said that the Kiwi doesn't settle his bets. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Thought I might slide that acronym past news due to excessive inhalation of Jet A over his career .... diminished capacity or some such thing. <img src="/images/icons/wink.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>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

You know it oz, it's going to be a great one. I'd also recommend retrieving the long fork from the barbie, and trying some hand-carbonated bread slices in your living room fireplace if you are so appointed!<br /><br />Very sorry that they didn't manage to get her space-borne while you were over there, mate, and has anyone sighted Poodown in recent times? <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>

 

[dougbaker]

Ok, they think they found the cause and the filling the et will tell us for sure. Did they make any changes to reduce the grounding and or eletromatic problem?<br />

 

[alokmohan]

We may hope for the best.