Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Live Thread (5:02 pm EDT)

05/31/08 | Kevin Davis

[KevinDavis]

This will be the official thread for the launching of the Space Shuttle Discovery..

[don-o]

OJ

NTSA!

[NormsRevenge]

whew!

[Squantos]

We were laughing at that as well........wait till they get this weekend bill for a plumber ! Only way they can fun up the pictures on this will be if they open the door of the ISS and hand the guys inside a plunger !

[brityank]

Just noticed — what was that second flag on the pole at the Press Launch View are — Mexico? WTF ??

[Ladysmith]

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

Keep following the links under “Sighting Opportunities” to your area to learn the times and elevation of shuttle and ISS flybys.

[advance_copy]

I saw that too.

[Ladysmith]

:o)

[don-o]

Saved - thanks

[stevie_d_64]

I saw it glance off about mid-way down the belly...Not on the leading wing edge, but like what you and I saw, I bet you some body is already watching a lot of playback with better imagery than what we have...

I’m sure its not going to be a problem...

The replays are about to begin...

Watch at about +4...

[advertising guy]

gotta have the plummer sitting leaned forward and the buttcrack photo...gotta have it !

[stevie_d_64]

Sure does get downrange with some authority doesn’t it...;-)

Once it hooks up after the roll pgm, it gets out of town quick...

[Squantos]

Or at least the good looking Doc !

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/nyberg-kl.html

[snippy_about_it]

http://alltheseworlds.net/images/flag.jpg

[stevie_d_64]

Need to include a tube of “spackle”...You know “crack filler”...

[brityank]

I don’t recognise that — each shuttle has a flag?

[markman46]

that is the flag for Discovery, I believe each shuttle has a flag

[brityank]

Well I’ll be! Never knew, or saw, that before.

Guess I ain’t dead yet — still learning !!

[advance_copy]

MSNBC now reporting that the shuttle had cleared the atmosphere at the time (3:52) and debris likely did not cause any damage.

[Issaquahking]

I love to watch watch a great launch. There is no other country in the free world, can begin to do what has just happened! Throttling up to 5 miles per second into space! Times like this remind of us why we are the greatest nation on Earth! I can only imagine... Kind of reminds of words given to us by John Gillespie Magee, Jr

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

[markman46]

yep!! ;-) Do feel bad I am still learning