Space Shuttle Countdown Enters Final Hours [3:51 p.m. EDT]

AP via Yahoo! ^ | Wednesday, July 13, 2005 | MIKE SCHNEIDER

[hiramknight]

for the folks who ready these ships for flight..

"SPACECRAFTSMAN'S CREED"


I approach the craft gently, and guide my hands true
I vow that this damage, will return to like new
For brothers and sisters, will soon strap themselves in
To this hurtling craft, with a skin that's so thin

Riding on top, of metal and fire
Propelled toward the stars, with profound desires
They selflessly sacrifice, the safety of home
To provide mankind knowledge, which yet is unknown

If fates had been different, and roles were reversed
I might find myself hurtling, violently from earth
But my role is quite clear, and my fate is defined
To ensure they return safely, on this spacecraft of mine

When they return, again I'll begin
To ready the craft, they'll be riding within
Remembering always, the souls onboard
Are lifted up by my hands, and trust in the Lord

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: "I disliked the Captain because I was an E-5 and had to salute his sorry ass and his claim to his commission was a degree in Physical Education. I was Mr Math and Physics and I had to salute a Gym teacher!"

Considering your anti-NASA remarks, I guess you have dropped the 'Mr Math and Physics' nome de plume...

BTW you saluted him because he was a superior officer. Guess you missed that in basic...

[Allegra]

Can the Brit's make a decent Rita???

Oh, yeah...the Brits do alcoholic beverages with expertise. And that restaurant specializes in Tex-Mex and brought the experts in to cook. I was thrilled to find it last year when I went to London.

I'll watch my back, but I want to get away from terrorism and bombs. I'm confident things will be back to normal then. Fortunately, terrorists don't scare me or make me change my plans. Ill be vigilant, but they're not going to rob my fun.

How I hate them.

[RightWhale]

Is this the live thread?

---

1450 GMT (10:50 a.m. EDT)

Showers are beginning to develop west of the launch pad, which weather forecasters had expected.

---

1440 GMT (10:40 a.m. EDT)

The inspection team is responsible for checking Discovery and the launch pad one last time prior to liftoff. The 8-person team is comprised of engineers and safety officials from NASA, United Space Alliance and tank-builder Lockheed Martin. At the conclusion of their two-hour tour-of-duty, the team will have walked up and down the entire fixed service structure and mobile launcher platform.

The team is on the lookout for any abnormal ice or frost build-up on the vehicle and integrity of the external tank foam insulation.

The team uses a portable infrared scanner that gathers temperature measurements on the surface area of the shuttle and can spot leaks. The scanner will be used to obtain temperature data on the external tank, solid rocket boosters, space shuttle orbiter, main engines and launch pad structures. The scanner can also spot leaks of the cryogenic propellants, and due to its ability to detect distinct temperature differences, can spot any dangerous hydrogen fuel that is burning. The team member also is responsible for photo documentation.

[al baby]

Lets pray that no one fornicates the canine today

[Liberty Valance]

set to blast off at 3:51 p.m. EDT on a flight to the international space station.

And that would be 2:51 p.m. central time :o)

[Textide]

Is this the live thread?

Not sure. Guess the mods could make it the official thread.

Weather's doing it's thing. At least here in Daytona (40mi north of Cape Canaveral), the sea breeze has been kicking in about noon every day, leaving the coast clear but leading to massive thunderstorms 30-40 miles inland. Wonder what the weather launch minimums are.

[ChefKeith]

O.K. I just think of warm beer when it comes to them, must be all those years working on Jags/Rolls that have me in that mindset.

If they have Corazon Tequila give it a try. The Anjeo' is like drinking iced tea it is so smooth.

Stay safe and PARTY ON!!!!

terrorists=weenie scumbags that won't fight like real Warriors.

terrorists don't scare me or make me change my plans.

That's because you are from Houston;)

[FourtySeven]

Bumpity.

[1Old Pro]

"We have done everything that we know to do," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said afterward.

This statement isn't very comforting.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Live Thread at

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1441951/posts?page=18

[biblewonk]

Tell that to the many physicists and astronomers who also scoff at the manned space program and point out how much more could be done with unmanned. On the order of 30 to 100 times more. Our own professor Van Allen of the U of I to name one.

[biblewonk]

By the way, the computer claim is just like my UAW dad who told me that we owe the existence of the weekend to unions. On a similarly absurd note there is a Catholic thread where they claim to have invented everything from universities to hospitals to fire and the wheel. I can only laugh at people that make such sad claims.</p>

[tnlibertarian]

Finding four guys willing to fly with two women.

That explains why the shuttle is swerving around on their mission logo; the women are driving.

[newgeezer]

It is only a matter of time before an asteroid or comet is going to hit this tired old world and puts the stopper in Mankind's bottle.

Oh, ye of little faith! Surely you know that Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) is ready to save you and yours from any such ridicul--... er, I mean, impending doom.

[biblewonk]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

I sure don't want to see my tax money get wasted like this.

[tfecw]

"As for private investment, it is typically daunting to raise money when the government is your competition because they have no cost of capital restrictions in their work.
"

I would argue the private investment is daunting because no one is likely to see a return in their lifetimes, not because the gubment is the competition. If there is money to be made in space the private sector will be all over it, until then don't count on them doing anything.

[Rodney King]

I would argue the private investment is daunting because no one is likely to see a return in their lifetimes, not because the gubment is the competition. If there is money to be made in space the private sector will be all over it, until then don't count on them doing anything.

In this case yes, it would be hard to imagine a near term return on investment. However, that does not mean that the government needs to build and operate spacecraft, they can merely provide funding.

[ErnBatavia]

Do they still call your area the "Lightning Capital of the World"? On my visits to Orlando and Daytona, you could almost count on 3-4pm storms.

[Two_Sheds]

On a similarly absurd note there is a Catholic thread where they claim to have invented everything from universities to hospitals to fire and the wheel.

Link please?