[NormsRevenge]

A large spider is seen near launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center Monday, Aug. 6, 2007. Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to lift off Thursday on a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/ Terry Renna)

[NormsRevenge]

Space shuttle Endeavour astronauts Dave Williams (L) of the Canadian Space Agency and Barbara Morgan wave following a news conference with other crew members at the space shuttle landing facility at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida August 3, 2007. Endeavour is scheduled for launch on August 8 on a mission to the International Space Station. Morgan was the backup for astronaut Christa McAuliffe who died aboard the space shuttle Challenger explosion. (Charles W Luzier/Reuters)

[RightWhale]

There’s even less news about this launch than usual. Must be the presence of the teacher. Nobody wants to write about all that.

[NormsRevenge]

Space shuttle Endeavour astronauts (L-R) Commander Scott Kelly, Pilot Charles Hobaugh, Tracy Caldwell, Rick Mastracchio, Dave Williams of the Canadian Space Agency, Barbara Morgan and Alvin Drew Jr. pose during a news conference after they arrived at the space shuttle landing facility at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida August 3, 2007. Endeavour is scheduled for launch on August 8 on a mission to the International Space Station. (Mike Carlson/Reuters)

[Yo-Yo]

NASA's top safety official has discussed the policy of no-drinking within 12 hours of liftoff with Endeavour's crew. The policy is now in writing and formally implemented "so that there are no questions," Hale said.

Even commercial pilots have an FAA "12 hours from bottle to throttle" rule. I can't believe that NASA never had such a formal rule before now in their 50+ years of manned space flight.