Posted on 12/09/2006 7:35:11 AM PST by KevinDavis
8:47 PM 40% chance weather will cooperate.
Last weather report I heard on NASA TV said SCT030 BKN060, but crosswinds are still a concern, 12G18. Launch updated from 30% go this morning to 40% go this evening.
As I'm typing this I just heart the newest report, clouds look to be green (actual and forecast) but winds are at or close to limits.
spaceflightnow.com
2233 GMT (5:33 p.m. EST)
Pilot Bill Oefelein of Anchorage, Alaska, is making his way to the flight deck's front-right seat.
Launch time at 8:47 pm est, still a go...
The Space Shuttle Discovery is surrounded by the Rotating Service Structure at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006. NASA hopes to launch Discovery Saturday in a rare night launch if weather permits. (AP Photo/Paul Kizzle)
The space shuttle Discovery is seen on Launch Pad 39B covered by the protective Rotating Service Structure, with nearby flags showing wind conditions, as mission managers assess weather conditions which might prevent the scheduled launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida December 9, 2006. REUTERS/Joe Skipper (UNITED STATES)
So far it is a go.....
Nick Patrick was born in the United Kingdom and later became an American citizen. The rookie astronaut serves as mission specialist No. 1 on Discovery's STS-116 flight. He is climbing to the flight deck's aft-right seat.
The Space Shuttle Discovery sits on Pad-39B just after sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006. NASA hopes to launch Discovery Saturday in a rare night launch if weather permits. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The Space Shuttle Discovery is pictured through the security fence at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006. NASA hopes to launch Discovery Saturday in a rare night launch if weather permits. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Final inspections complete at T-2:02 and counting.
The Space Shuttle Discovery sits on Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. The countdown clock was held at 5:00 minutes and NASA officials scrubbed the launch because of weather concerns. (AP Photo/Pete Cosgrove)
Game on..
Let's light this candle!
On was on vacation in Florida 3 or 4 years ago and got to see the last night launch. It was awesome.
There was a full moon during all this. Someone should have a good 600 mm image of the moon balanced on the nose of the external tank.
Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts (clockwise from lower left) Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick who was born in England, Sunita Williams, Robert Curbeam, Christer Fuglesang of Sweden, Pilot William Oefelein and Mission Commander Mark Polansky depart for the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida December 9, 2006. The astronauts are set to fly on Mission STS-116 to the International Space Station. REUTERS/Joe Skipper (UNITED STATES)
This should be the final space shuttle launch from launch pad 39B. They will be upgrading the pad after this launch for the new Ares program
Although they will have a shuttle (Atlantis) on the pad for a LON (Launch On Need) mission during STS-125 to Hubble. Word is that some of the Ares modifications will have already taken place.
Someone I work with told me that he saw the night launches.. Same thing.. An awesome sight....
Weather conditions remain "go" for launch at this time.
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