STS-121 Update Thread: Part Two

[drwayne]

OK, now they get to look at the data...<br /><br />Sat with my boy and wife for the launch<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

I saw some small stuff, tough to tell what it was though.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[Swampcat]

I saw all kinds of small objects falling off, but they all looked to be from the aft end.<br /><br />Anyway, we'll know more later when the hand held camera footage is downlinked and examined. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[superluminal]

Absolutely amazing, safely in orbit.<br /><br />The tiles looked good to me.<br /> <br />I'm looking forward to the next two weeks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Columbia and Challenger </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Starships of Heroes</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[ozspace]

should be running replays from various angles soon<br /><br />We have a shuttle orbiter back in orbit!!! <br /><br />(added "orbiter" for shuttle_guy)

 

[bobw]

YEEEEHAAAAAA<br /><br />I didn't think the waiting would ever end. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mattblack]

About a half-dozen tiddly chunks that looked like they were from low on the ice-frost ramps. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[smythey]

Heres a daft question for you, but what happens to the external fuel tank - is it just left in orbit, or does in splat back down in the Atlantic somewhere?

 

[mattblack]

Does about 2 thirds of an orbit, but without the Shuttles OMS engines to speed up circularise it, it falls and breaks up somewhere over the Indian ocean. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[ozspace]

hard to tell size with that fish eye lens... I hope it's nothing.<br /><br />Congratulations all!

 

[viper101]

"news announcers that don't shut up"<br /><br />No kidding. I was stuck with CNN's Miles O'brien.<br /><br />Shut up Miles!

 

[tplank]

I’d like to add my hearty congratulations to everyone involved in the Shuttle program. My heart stopped for a considerable amount of time during this launch. It was gorgeous. It is great being back in business again. My hat is off to everyone who made this happen. I can only imagine the rush you must feel. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[barrykirk]

Fabulous launch!!!! Good luck to the mission.<br />I enjoyed watching it with my wife and son.

 

[subzero788]

Nasaspaceflight.com is reporting that some foam loss was seen during launch:<br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>"...there is a nervous wait to evaluate what appeared to be foam loss shortly after SRB seperation. <br />Several pieces of debris could be seen coming off the tank at around the same time, although they appeared to miss the orbiter."<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />I didn't notice anything but then again I was watching a pretty poor quality web cast. Did anyone else see anything?<br />

 

[drwayne]

The Shuttle's trajectory is in fact shaped to do the tank dumping in a controlled fashion. If it were not, the tank would in fact go into a short lived orbit, and de-orbit in an uncontrolled fashion.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[mattblack]

Better Miles O'Brien than plenty of other I've heard!!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

You can also find some interesting discussions if you search. By law, if you can come up with a viable, safe plan for using the spent tank, then NASA will in fact have to put it in orbit for you.<br /><br />I encourage you to bump around and check out the previous discussions.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[ozspace]

They are showing replays now, I hope that includes the ET camera...

 

[superluminal]

Payload bay doors should be opening in about thirty minutes or so.<br /><br />Something was said about having a different payload door opening attitude.<br /><br />Any clues as to what this is?<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Columbia and Challenger </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Starships of Heroes</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

I don't mind giving up six points for a launch like that. I'm not ashamed to say I had a lump in the throat when Discovery powered off the pad, it was a truely beautiful thing. The SRB's didn't burn as red this time. I didn't notice much of anything coming off from the ET cam footage.<br /><br />Congratulations on a great job, SG, hope that beer tastes especially good this afternoon. <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>

 

[gawin]

IM still amazed that i get goose bumps when it launches. And I too hold my breath every time i here "go with throttle up".<br /><br />one other thing that i find absolutly amazing is that i live on FL west coast north of tampa and the shuttle makes so much noise at launch that you can here it over here <several mins after launch /><br /><br />Good luck Discovery and crew!!!<br /><br />and good work to all who got that bird in the air.

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">Nasaspaceflight.com is reporting that some foam loss was seen during launch:</font>/i><br /><br />I didn't notice anything, but NASA has been very upfront saying that foam would fall off. In this case, size does matter.</i>

 

[silylene old]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>In reply to:<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />"...there is a nervous wait to evaluate what appeared to be foam loss shortly after SRB seperation. <br />Several pieces of debris could be seen coming off the tank at around the same time, although they appeared to miss the orbiter."<br /><br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br />I didn't notice anything but then again I was watching a pretty poor quality web cast. Did anyone else see anything? <br /><p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />I also saw this happen clearly (CBS television), and commented about it at the time to my wife, who was also watching. Moments later the CBS comentator said that "no pieces had fallen off", and I told my wife that he was wrong. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"Something was said about having a different payload door opening attitude. "<br /><br />They will be flying a different attitude to provide heating of the L5L thruster where the heater failed Saturday. However, I am not sure how soon into the flight plan. Don't know if that is it.

 

[drwayne]

Noted this item:<br /><br />"Because Discovery's on-board fuel cell supplies were topped off Monday, the crew is expected to have enough on-board oxygen and hydrogen to generate the electricity needed for a one day mission extension. If so, Sellers and Fossum will stage a third spacewalk to test wing leading edge repair techniques. "<br /><br />Here:<br /><br />http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts121/060704launch/ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>