Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch Live Thread 09/09/06 11:15 am EDT

09/07/06 | Kevin Davis

[KevinDavis]

Lets burn this candle!!!!

[RightWhale]

Looks like they couldn't work around the tank sensor issue. They would not want a near 100% chance of main motor explosion at burnout.

[RightWhale]

The Pilot wishes he might get to actually fly the thing, take it off autopilot, maybe touch down in Rota or Canberra, mission be d**ned.

[markman46]

thanks for the info.I am never sure of the correct terminology

[burzum]

Tomorrows launch time is 11:15 EDT.

[OldFriend]

NO GO TODAY

[TNCMAXQ]

Damn. Seems almost cruel to get so close and then tell the astronauts they aren't going anywhere. But of course they're used to it.

I sure hope they make it tomorrow. At least I will not be at work and can watch NASA TV at home.

Six years ago today mission STS-106 lifted off exactly on time, also with the orbiter Atlantis. Dan Burbank was on board, as he is today. That was the last of 12 launches I saw in person. I hope I get to see one or two more in the next couple of years.

[edcoil]

NASA, a Billions of dollars annual failure.

[RobFromGa]

Please put [Postponed] in thread title

[synbad600]

At least I will not be at work and can watch . . .

from the bridge, a ten minute walk from my house. WAHOO! Going to take a video with my camera!! This will be at least the seventh one I have witnessed. It rocks.

[OldFriend]

There is nothing more exciting than seeing that big big bird lift off the launch pad. The sound that comes a few moments later is part of the most amazing experience.

Bro in law worked on Cape Canaveral and was one of the engineers that worked on the platform that holds the shuttle. He was there when the fire broke out and the astronauts died.

Lots of stories about life on the Cape, complete with stories about the alligators knowing exactly when the engineers were out on the steps having lunch. The gators would mosey on by to get snacks!

[Yo-Yo]

Richard Hogland was on Coast-to-Coast AM last night saying exactly this. There is a problem in one fuel cell's coolant circulation pump motor, and if they lose a fuel cell they have to come home. He can't believe they're even attempting to launch, given that if they do make it to orbit and the fuel cell dies, they will have to jetison the ISS beam payload. The Shuttle is too heavy to return with it in the cargo hold.

[phantomworker]

Thanks!

[FReepaholic]

Astronaut office voted no on launch today

Good. I got nervous when Wayne Hale said it was "probably acceptable" to launch.

Probably acceptable???

I highly recommend reading Mike Mullane's autobiography Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut

Great behind-the-scenes look at Shuttle era astronauts.

I was glad that the astronaut office voted no on the launch because they've had to be silent for so long. Astonauts have been reluctant to speak out for fear of being "blacklisted" and lose their chance to fly. Mullane goes into good detail about this.

[cripplecreek]

I'm ready to go. under 3 hours till launch and all is go.

[KevinDavis]

So far still a go!!!!

[KevinDavis]

[Howlin]

Dadgumit, I'm going to be out! I'll try to find it on the radio, fat chance!

[KevinDavis]

Fat chance is right....

[markman46]

I here, the hatch has been closed.

[cripplecreek]

I've got an external view right now.