STS-126 (STS-400) Processing/launch

MeteorWayne · Nov 12, 2008

Today's scribblenotes update after the MMT review new conf.There are no open issues, firm go has been given for Launch.Weather situation is unchanged with the same percentages as yesterday.60% go Friday night, 40% Saturday, 70% Sunday.Launch countdown picked up at 2130 yesterday as expected.If not launched by 21st (or 25th if flex can be negotiated with Progress docking), it would be delayed till January. Current plan if this mission goes off on time is to move up STS-119 to January if possible.MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Nov 12, 2008

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Television will provide a continuous clean video feed on its Media Channel of space shuttle Endeavour in the hours before its 7:55 p.m. EST liftoff on Nov. 14. Beginning at 2:30 p.m., video will show one stationary wide shot of Endeavour on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The feed will include live audio of communications between launch controllers and the shuttle but not the commentary airing on NASA TV's Public Channel. NASA TV commentary will air on both channels beginning approximately nine minutes before the scheduled launch time at the conclusion of what is known as the T minus 9 minute hold in the launch countdown. During the shuttle's 15-day STS-126 mission to the International Space Station, the crew will deliver supplies and equipment necessary to double the station crew size from three to six members and conduct four spacewalks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

bobble_bob · Nov 12, 2008

"Current plan if this mission goes off on time is to move up STS-119 to January if possible."Someone at my workplace wont be happy about that. They're in Florida in Feb and were hoping to see the launchThanks for the notes again <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

shuttle_guy · Nov 12, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Thank you.  I can't wait!  Posted by ap</DIV> From the Titusville area (which is the closest place to watch the launch)  remember it will take around 56 sec. for the sound of the launch to reach you. If you do not pay attention and do not see the launch when you hear it it will be gone ! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

shuttle_guy · Nov 12, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'> From the Titusville area (which is the closest place to watch the launch)  remember it will take around 56 sec. for the sound of the launch to reach you. If you do not pay attention and do not see the launch when you hear it it will be gone ! Posted by shuttle_guy</DIV> The cloud base is predicted to be around 12,000 ft on Friday. It will be a pretty launch however it will enter the cloudsvery quickly. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

earth_bound_misfit · Nov 12, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>60% go Friday night, 40% Saturday, 70% Sunday Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Are the Sat and Sunday windows night or day? I prefer day launches personally as on NASAtv you can see more.Getting excited baby!  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ----------------------------------------------------------------- Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?Go here to see how: SDC Eye saver </div>

MeteorWayne · Nov 12, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Are the Sat and Sunday windows night or day? I prefer day launches personally as on NASAtv you can see more.Getting excited baby!  Posted by earth_bound_misfit</DIV>All 3 attempts will be after the start of Astronomical twilight, so will be night launches. If it goes another 2 or 3 days it will be between Nautical and Astronomical twilight, so will not be fully dark, but for all intents and purposes, it will still be a night launch. Only a meteor observere would notice the difference

Besides, if s_g's ceiling prediction is correct, it's kind of a moot point. How long does it take to get to 12,000 feet? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

earth_bound_misfit · Nov 12, 2008

It's not so much the ground camera stuff I like to see (in this context) but the onboard camera angles such as the SRB sep and return to Earth and the ET sep. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ----------------------------------------------------------------- Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?Go here to see how: SDC Eye saver </div>

MeteorWayne · Nov 12, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>It's not so much the ground camera stuff I like to see (in this context) but the onboard camera angles such as the SRB sep and return to Earth and the ET sep. Posted by earth_bound_misfit</DIV> Well the ET sep takes place on the other side of the world (over the Indian Ocean?) so it might be daytime there

<div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

bpcooper · Nov 12, 2008

It is a night launch throuigh the 18th; 20 mins after sunset on the 19th; at sunset the 20th and daytime after that. In terms of television where the cameras are stopped down, it will appear to be at night through the 19th included. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -Ben </div>

job1207 · Nov 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'> From the Titusville area (which is the closest place to watch the launch)  remember it will take around 56 sec. for the sound of the launch to reach you. If you do not pay attention and do not see the launch when you hear it it will be gone ! Posted by shuttle_guy</DIV>I love this part. And I think that it is 57 seconds. ( Only kidding SG ) good work as always, and good luck with the flight.

shuttle_guy · Nov 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I love this part. And I think that it is 57 seconds. ( Only kidding SG ) good work as always, and good luck with the flight.  Posted by job1207</DIV>Thanks, I think we have about a 50/50 chance on Friday and worse on Saturday...but this is Florida and predictiong the weather is difficult. We will be ready so hopefully the weather will be as well.For Friday the ceiling may be OK at 12,000 ft. The low limit is 8,000 ft for the range safety officer visibility for the destruct command if required. Near by thunderstorms should be outside of the limit.   <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Nov 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Thanks, I think we have about a 50/50 chance on Friday and worse on Saturday...but this is Florida and predictiong the weather is difficult. We will be ready so hopefully the weather will be as well.For Friday the ceiling may be OK at 12,000 ft. The low limit is 8,000 ft for the range safety officer visibility for the destruct command if required. Near by thunderstorms should be outside of the limit.   Posted by shuttle_guy</DIV> Countdown Status Briefing at 10 AM EST will include the latest report from the Weather Officer. Live on NASA TV <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Nov 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Countdown Status Briefing at 10 AM EST will include the latest report from the Weather Officer. Live on NASA TV Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Scribblenotes: All is going well in the countdown. RSS retraction ~ 11:30 PM this evening.Weather is Good news/bad news.Scheduled Launch Friday, chance of acceptable conditions is now up to 70%. 2 Good CONUS, 1 Good TAL site.Saturday has gotten worse as frontal passage is expected near launch time. Only 30% Go, 2 Good CONUS, 2 Good TAL sites.Sunday has gotten better; front should be through. 80% chance go, 2 good CONUS, 3 Good TAL sites.A question was asked about visibility from ground...Kathy Winters said there will be cumulus around, worse to the west (Tampa). But after that, ceiling should be ~ 20,000 feet so between the puffballs should be a good view.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

thor06 · Nov 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Scribblenotes:All is going well in the countdown. RSS retraction ~ 11:30 PM this evening.Weather is Good news/bad news.Scheduled Launch Friday, chance of acceptable conditions is now up to 70%. 2 Good CONUS, 1 Good TAL site.Saturday has gotten worse as frontal passage is expected near launch time. Only 30% Go, 2 Good CONUS, 2 Good TAL sites.Sunday has gotten better; front should be through. 80% chance go, 2 good CONUS, 3 Good TAL sites.A question was asked about visibility from ground...Kathy Winters said there will be cumulus around, worse to the west (Tampa). But after that, ceiling should be ~ 20,000 feet so between the puffballs should be a good view.  Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>   Thanks for notes MW, and updates SG!      I love the night launches!  I have all fingers and toes crossed for friday.  Dusted off the NLE system, and I'm ready for a wonderful and safe mission.  I could not be more excited about this particular mission, and finally having an ISS crew capability of 6.  It seems like forever, the wait.  How many times have we been told it takes 2.5 people to run ISS so little science gets done.  Soon with a 6 person crew (spring maybe?) and the incredible science labs in place we could see some real breakthroughs.         God I love our international space program, and all the great people involved(especially NASA of course)!      To me:  The greatest human endeavour of all time. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> www.watchnasatv.com ONE PERCENT FOR NASA! </div>

roxrykel · Nov 14, 2008

I am so glad I found this site - my son has enjoyed reading all the updates.  We are going to be in Orlando late Nov/early Dec and had planned on visiting KSC on Nov. 29th.  My son was there 2 years ago and can't wait to go back.  He did the close up tour and was thrilled that a shuttle was on the launch pad at the time.  I know the projected landing date is Nov 29, that can easily change, and that a landing is nothing like a launch, but I was wondering if we should avoid KSC on a landing day if we have the choice?  Are certain areas off limits that normally would not be that will limit our experience?  Would it be good to aim for a landing day and change our date if necessary.?Sorry if this isn't the best place to post this, but I really want to make the most of our visit for my son (budding aerospace engineer/space buff) - he is more excited about KSC than Disney.

MeteorWayne · Nov 14, 2008

The Mission Management Team has given a "go" to begin fueling space shuttle Endeavour for this evening's launch, a NASA spokeswoman says. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

rocketwatcher2001 · Nov 14, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I am so glad I found this site - my son has enjoyed reading all the updates.  We are going to be in Orlando late Nov/early Dec and had planned on visiting KSC on Nov. 29th.  My son was there 2 years ago and can't wait to go back.  He did the close up tour and was thrilled that a shuttle was on the launch pad at the time.  I know the projected landing date is Nov 29, that can easily change, and that a landing is nothing like a launch, but I was wondering if we should avoid KSC on a landing day if we have the choice?  Are certain areas off limits that normally would not be that will limit our experience?  Would it be good to aim for a landing day and change our date if necessary.?Sorry if this isn't the best place to post this, but I really want to make the most of our visit for my son (budding aerospace engineer/space buff) - he is more excited about KSC than Disney.   Posted by roxrykel</DIV> Landings are just as great to see and launches.  The *Boom-Boom* of the sonic boom as it flies overhead, and just to watch it drop from 50,000 ft. to touchdown in a minute or two is amazing.  Plus you'll be surprised how loud the thing is, I expected it was going to be fairly quiet because it is a "Glider", but it is a glider powered by 3 rocket APU's which have a neat sound all their own. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

roxrykel · Nov 14, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'> Landings are just as great to see and launches.  The *Boom-Boom* of the sonic boom as it flies overhead, and just to watch it drop from 50,000 ft. to touchdown in a minute or two is amazing.  Plus you'll be surprised how loud the thing is, I expected it was going to be fairly quiet because it is a "Glider", but it is a glider powered by 3 rocket APU's which have a neat sound all their own. Posted by rocketwatcher2001</DIV>Thanks!  That is great to know.  I had read somewhere that you really could see anything.  So glad I asked.  Maybe I'll hold off setting our schedule to try to be there the projected day (knowing that things are fluid and not to count on anything). Would there be more of a reason to book the close up tour that day or just try to be flexible so we aren't on a bus at the wrong time.  We were thinking of doing the then and now tour for the first time if possible (need to get my son an ID made) but may want to not overschedule on this day.

MeteorWayne · Nov 14, 2008

OK, since the constraints to launch will be showers within 20 nm, or clouds in the vicinity (with tops <41F or too thick), these are the weather sites I will be monitoring before launch.All these will need to be refreshed regularly to get the latest data.Launch is scheduled for 7:55 PM EST tonight. That is 0055 UT on all the sources I will link to.First, two radar sites:This is the big picture. You can see the activity along the cold front approaching from the northwest. As of now, it appears this bad stuff will arrive after launch.http://www.intellicast.com/national/radar/current.aspx?location=USFL0438&animate=trueThis is the closer view. I don't use the Melbourne site, since it is too close to the launch comlex and the ground clutter makes it hard to see what is going on. I'll link to it below in case you want to look, but much of what shows is not real, it is reflections from the ground.http://www.intellicast.com/national/nexrad/basereflectivity.aspx?location=USFL0431&animate=truehttp://www.intellicast.com/national/nexrad/basereflectivity.aspx?location=USFL0431For those that don't know, the KSC in on that bump that extends from the northeastern Florida coast.Here is the Melbourne site, but as you can see the ground clutter makes it hard to see local showers. Still, it can be useful, so I keep it up and check it regularly.http://www.intellicast.com/national/nexrad/basereflectivity.aspx?location=USFL0311&animate=trueNow here are two cloud sites.For both, you will need to take the following actions.Below the images there are a number of selections you can make, and then you click on the image to activate themHit the "animate" button, and select 12 from the image loop dropdown box.Select Quality 100% from the dropdown box. Leave the Zoom Factor at "High"Then click on the image above as close as you can to the KSC. It's along the Northeastern Florida Coast.The first is the visible satellite image. This will be useful until an hour or two before launch, then it gets too dark.http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeseastconus.htmlAfter it is too dark, you need to use this Infrared image. Be aware this has lower resolution, and does not show low clouds well. Still it's a useful tool, once you learn how to use it. http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeseastconusir.htmlAgain, for all of these, you will need to refresh the image every 15 to 30 minutes to get the latest data. Launch is sheduled for 0055 UT. The time of the latest image is contained in each one in UT format.Good luck, and I will answer any questions I can until about an hour before launch when things get too hectic.Meteor(ology) Wayne  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

rybanis · Nov 14, 2008

*Climbs back out of the woodwork* Excited about tonight. I have a meeting that lasts until around hatch-closing. Crossing my fingers that the weather will be go! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

bobble_bob · Nov 14, 2008

Im here now for the night with a beer. Hope we get to see a launch

MeteorWayne · Nov 14, 2008

<h3>Space Shuttle Endeavour Ready for Flight</h3>Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:40:46 PM EST Endeavour is in the final stages of launch preparation before its liftoff to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Loading of Endeavour's orange external tank with 500,000 gallons of super-cold liquid oxygen and hydrogen began this morning and was completed at 1:31 p.m. EST. The "topping off" of propellants into the tank will continue until Endeavour's launch. All systems aboard the space shuttle are functioning normally and are ready for launch. Weather continues to be acceptable for a 7:55 p.m. launch time and no technical issues are being reported at this time. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

arkady · Nov 14, 2008

Alarm clock set. Visiting sister in Abu Dhabi, so it's gonna be 5am for me, eek!Not gonna miss this one I hope. Nighttime launch + partial cloudcover = divine sight. See ya tomorrow. As always thanks for the excellent updates SG and Wayne. Best of luck to everyone involved. (even though luck is preferrably not a factor <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-tongue-out.gif" border="0" alt="Tongue out" title="Tongue out" />) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "The choice is the Universe, or nothing ... " - H.G Wells </div>

MeteorWayne · Nov 14, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Alarm clock set. Visiting sister in Abu Dhabi, so it's gonna be 5am for me, eek!Not gonna miss this one I hope. Nighttime launch + partial cloudcover = divine sight. See ya tomorrow. As always thanks for the excellent updates SG and Wayne. Best of luck to everyone involved. (even though luck is preferrably not a factor ) Posted by arkady</DIV> BTW, how's the discussion forums working for you over there? No big problems? Are you on dialup, or a high speed connection? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

STS-126 (STS-400) Processing/launch

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