Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Live Thread (04/05/10 6:21am EDT)

KU-band antenna appears to be tracking, but the electronics seem toast (no I/O). They’re not clear on single point of failure. Based on what they’ve seen it seems likely. The precise failure point is unknown. Spokesdude is saying this is pretty much being writen off as nothing more than a minor inconveniance. They’re operationally moving on due to chock full work schedule.

Main thing on the schedule is the upcoming docking with the ISS. Spokesdude said that when they try the rendezvous radar dealy prior to docking they may get more data concerning the particular failure that’s going on.

Have no fear though, the astronauts in the ISS know all the correct flashlight waving maneuvers to guide the shuttle in.

“C’mon back, c’mon back. Woah. Woah. Right a little, little more. That’s it. No, no. Left, left, left. O.k, o.k.. No, now you’re all jacked up. Pull her out and then come in like this (making and arcing motion)”

Not all that differnt than guiding airliners in and out of the gates (or pulling semi’s into the loading wharf). Plus there’s an expert sextant user on Discovery, after they blow the dust off the thing, he’ll be able to horn into ISS without any problems by sighting in on some stars. It gets a bit dicey though if they have to resort to mooring lines.

Right now they’re looking to download about 35-40 GB worth of post-ascent data and inspection video (6.5 - 8 GB / 40 min. tape). Digital conversion will occur vial wireless link to the ISS and then download from ISS to ground will be at 1:1; download will take 40min x 6 tapes. Then the engineering wonks will play back the files downloaded (obviously that’ll be real-time also). Post-insertion inspction analysis results will become available subsequently.

They practice shuttle landings in a modified Gulfstream business jet. Left seater sits behind a functional mockup of the shuttle cockpit. The shuttle pilot instructor sits in the right seat with functional Gulfstream instrumentatino and flies the plane to the sim point.

The sim is set up by dropping the gear, and throwing thrust reversers on. Then the left seater has to land the plane.

Anybody know if that ride is worth the price of an E ticket at Disney?

Rendevouz pitch maneuver completed.

Now they blow the dust off the sextant, break out the wristlets / flight-line flashlights, and power up the shutter-type morse-lamps (used on ships when radio traffic was considered bad.

(Click on the image if you want to see more rendevous pitch images)

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