LIVE THREAD(2): DISCOVERY - Return to Flight

NASA ^ | 7-25-05

[OXENinFLA]

Poised for Liftoff

Space Shuttle Discovery rests in full view on the launch pad. Image above: The rolling back of Launch Pad 39B's Rotating Service Structure reveals orbiter Discovery. + Click for larger image. Image credit: NASA/KSC

Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-114, NASA's Return to Flight mission, is set for Tuesday at 10:39 a.m. EDT.

The launch pad's Rotating Service Structure (RSS) was rolled away from Discovery at 3:38 p.m. on Monday. When in place, the giant enveloping appendage is used to install payloads into an orbiter's cargo bay and provide protection from inclement weather. With the RSS now out of the way, propellant loading is set to begin after midnight Tuesday morning with the pumping of more than 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen into the vehicle's orange External Tank.

The chance of Kennedy weather cooperating for the launch remains at 60 percent.

First Lady Laura Bush will join other dignitaries and VIPs at Kennedy for the Return to Flight liftoff, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan announced earlier today.

[Allegra]

Perhaps you could tell him how we responded.

That's a great idea. I have a meeting with him and two of his colleagues tomorrow. they're bidding on a big job we have in Anbar Province.

I'll tell him I shared it with some friends because I was so touched by it and that the response was overwhelming.

I try to do my part in doing everything we can to keep solidifying our newfound friendship with this country.

[m1-lightning]

Thanks!

[OXENinFLA]

Nope I couldn't see it either.

Here's where I was standing....

[OXENinFLA]

Nice shots.

[Miss Behave]

Allegra, when I said that your secret's safe with us, I was referring to your need for Dash's Kleenex.

I know I went through my share in my neck of the woods.

Stay cool today there, Allegra...hopefully UNDER 100 degrees today. :-)

[Allegra]

I was just thinking I'll never forget that morning when our golden retriever was barking like crazy and then we hear this deafening roar like a 747 was landing on our house....we run outside and can see the steaks across the sky...

That was a horrible day, wasn't it? And for you to be so close to it...thank god you were OK. I remember it well. I was a little south of the falling debris - I was in Houston.

But this day is a happy one - we're going back! Yet another example of Americans refusing to be defeated! WOOOOHOOOO!!!

[ariamne]

That is so cool, Allegra!

(tearing up again..oh dear, at least its allergy season here in the Hudson Valley!)

[The_Victor]

Excellence in human endeavor takes many forms. Our return to space is one form. The Iraqi's movement toward democracy, freedom, and personal liberty is another. I can't speak for all, but for myself - I stand in awe and respect of the great strides the Iraqi people have made after so many decades of oppression.

Ditto what he just said....

The hight of human endeavor takes many forms.

[m1-lightning]

I found a .RAM file version of the video for anyone else that didn't get to see it.

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/videos/metafiles/ksc_072605_rtf_launch.ram

[Allegra]

Stay cool today there, Allegra...hopefully UNDER 100 degrees today. :-)

It's never below 100 in July and August here. When the highs drop to 110 in September, we exult in it. LOL It hit about 117 today.

It's sunset now, though. the Evil, Scorching Orb is sinking for the day.

[tiredoflaundry]

I hope so!

[Charles Martel]

John Scott on FoxNews: "There is no other nation on the face of the earth that can do that."

[PaulaB]

I agree..I know others go up but this is American to us. I always make my kids watch this stuff...its a good history lesson to them....it instills pride for this country in their hearts. We always watched it as kids and look how good we turned out!!!!! :~)

[RckyRaCoCo]

My cat(the one with the space shuttle on his face)says....

CONGRAT'S NASA, DISCOVERY....USA!

(looks like the launch wore him out.....but he said it was purrrrrfect))

[Salvation]

Thank you, God, for a safe lift-ofof!

[JustaCowgirl]

I often wonder how Laura Bush keeps her composure at times like that. I would be blubbering in front of the whole world, TV cameras blazing away.

[EX52D]

Keep cool, Allegra! Here in Las Vegas we were at 117 for many days in a row, so I feel for ya! ;)

[NautiNurse]

No view from Tampa Bay either. Glad I recorded it!

[Allegra]

Here in Las Vegas we were at 117 for many days in a row, so I feel for ya! ;)

Yes, we saw that on the news last week. Seemed like most of the U.S. was scorching. Except yours was a heat wave and ours is just normal. LOL

People back homne would start to tell us how hot it was and then sort of stop, realizing they weren't going to get a lot of sympathy from this end. HAHA

It's dusk now and quite tolerable outside.

[isthisnickcool]

Is that the flag that we put on Mars?

Shelie-Jackson-Lee (*snicker*)