Posted on 05/31/2008 5:28:12 AM PDT by KevinDavis
This will be the official thread for the launching of the Space Shuttle Discovery..
We routinely have one or two manatee (often Mom and youth) hanging out back under the boat lift. The neighbors toss romaine lettuce to them.
spaceflightnow.com
2035 GMT (4:35 p.m. EDT)
Space shuttle Discovery is about 600 miles behind the space station and closing at about 63 miles per orbit for tomorrow’s docking.
The crew completed the inspection tasks today using the shuttle’s robot arm. The astronauts said they did not see anything to be worried about. Further checks of the heat shield will occur as the mission proceeds.
Just saw your link! Going to go out tonight with the kids and try to see both - they are going to be only 2 minutes apart where I am (as the ISS goes out of view the Shuttle should come into view!). :)
Forgot to say THANK YOU! :)
I know that I’m going to embarrass myself by asking this question but here goes anyway -—
How is the shuttle supported-(upright) before launch?
I know that the spacecraft is not supported by the solid rocket booster nozzles on the launch pad, but how does the launch progress work?
Just askin’
Here’s a blog that’s worth keeping an eye on. fregards, FV
http://spaceports.blogspot.com/2008/04/sts-124-launch-target-may-31st.html
spaceflightnow.com
NASA spokesman Bill Johnson said Sunday “they sustained some serious damage on the north side of the (flame trench) wall.
spaceflightnbow.com
1517 GMT (11:17 a.m. EDT)
TI burn. The shuttle has performed the Terminal Initiation burn to begin the final phase of today’s rendezvous. The engine firing puts the shuttle on a trajectory to directly intercept the orbiting station over the next orbit and a half. This burn is the latest in a series of maneuvers performed by Discovery during its two days of chasing the station since launch Saturday.
Docking is anticipated shortly before 2 p.m. today.
Is that all damage on the ground? Flame Trench? Thanks for the update.
Yes, the pad itself is made of concrete block and brick and other robust things. Still, 7 million pounds of thrust comes from tons of burning gas per second and that would tear most anything apart.
How ineresting.
It’s quiet across Indian River by the rocks. Then, as the big white plumes come up and as the space shuttle heads for the heavens, a rumble crosses the Indian River surface and my feet felt the rumbling. It wasn’t loud like a heavy metal concert or a sonic boom. It was a steady rumble. The flame was huge, even from where I was across the river.
spaceflightnow.com
1900 GMT (3:00 p.m. EDT)
The shuttle Discovery glided to a gentle docking with the international space station today, wrapping up a two-day orbital rendezvous after pausing directly below the lab complex for a slow-motion back flip that gave the lab crew a chance to photograph the orbiter’s heat shield.
I did see the docking on www.baynews9.com (Tampa Bay)
It’s SO cool to see. Be ready for the night when the shuttle undocks to come home. You might have a night or two of seeing the ISS fly over first and the shuttle trailing a few degrees behind it.
AGREED! We got to see both the ISS and the Shuttle last night. Just as the ISS disappeared, there was the shuttle. It was high overhead where I was last night. Absolutely amazing! Thanks again. :)
PS - I’ve got that site bookmarked we’ve got some tall trees in the neighborhood, but should be able to still see it today and tomorrow at least. :)
AGREED! We got to see both the ISS and the Shuttle last night. Just as the ISS disappeared, there was the shuttle. It was high overhead where I was last night. Absolutely amazing! Thanks again. :)
PS - I’ve got that site bookmarked we’ve got some tall trees in the neighborhood, but should be able to still see it today and tomorrow at least. :)
OOPS - not sure how that happened, but sorry for the double post.
spaceflightnow.com
1421 GMT (10:21 a.m. EDT)
LOX LOADING BEGINS. Cryogenic liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, has started flowing from the storage reservoir at Complex 17, through plumbing and into the bottom of the ULA Delta 2-Heavy rocket. The LOX will be consumed by the first stage main engine during the first four-and-a-half minutes of flight along with the 10,000 gallons of RP-1 kerosene already loaded aboard the vehicle.
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