Posted on 02/23/2011 2:32:10 PM PST by Pyro7480
NASA Managers: It's a "Go" for Launch
At today's pre-launch news conference NASA's mission management team have given their unanimous approval for space shuttle Discovery's launch tomorrow at 4:50 p.m. EST.
"Everything is on track and going beautifully with the countdown," said Mike Moses, mission management team chair. "We're really looking forward to a very action-packed, successful mission and everything is on track."
Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director, agreed that everything is going extremely well with the launch countdown. He also acknowledged the processing teams who worked on Discovery, its flight systems and ground elements. "As we're powering up (the systems) we're seeing no problems at all."
The rotating service structure will be rolled away from Discovery at around 8 p.m. revealing it for the last time on the launch pad. Loading of the external fuel tank will begin at around 7:25 a.m. tomorrow morning. "We're not tracking any issues and it looks like Discovery will fly this time," said Leinbach.
Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer, reported that the weather remains exceptional with only a 20 percent chance that weather will be prohibitive at launch time. The only slight issue may be a localized off-shore shower in the late afternoon. The forecast during tanking also is looking very good.
At 7:15 a.m. EST NASA TV will begin coverage of the fueling of the external tank. Launch coverage for Discovery's final mission to the International Space Station will begin at 11:30 a.m.
I'm not sure what you mean?
read article 1 section 8
*spaceplacemarker*
It's called research.
Sorry that you drank the liberal Kool-Aid. At less than one half of one percent of the federal budget, NASA has returned far more than that in R&D, spinoffs and basic scientific knowledge. The liberals hijacked it in the '90s for "Earth studies," and we all know what this gang of Commies has done to it.
Space is a potential theater of war. We need a presence and expertise. If I had my way, NASA would be turned over to either the USAF or USN, and private space ventures would be given tax breaks to get them into a competitive environment.
Are you always such an idiotic putz?
In that case so are those of the FBI, CIA, NSA, AEC, USAF (not mentioned in the Constitution while the Army and Navy are,) NOAA...
I think we took a Russian satellite out of orbit once.
Shhh....
Most everything the government does is outside of the scope of the Constitution. But the USAF is not. It used to be called the the Army Air Corps until 1947, I think. Certainly changing its name would not make it unconstitutional. The Constitution is (or was) about what functions the Federal government could get involved in, not what the government decides to call things.
Do you know why the FBI is the FBI; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, that is? When it was formed many argued (correctly, IMHO) that a Federal police force was unconstitutional, and that the police function was a State responsibility. So the proponents said that the new agency would only assist local police forces with their investigations. They lied.
ML/NJ
That would be great if you got NASA tv:( I’ve still got comcast.
There is no point in arguing with the Luddites, and they won't be impressed by any technology transfers or other benefits of space exploration. Their problem with NASA is philosophical, not fiduciary. Many of them won't be happy until we are all again wearing animal skins and living off the land.
Any idea when this is scheduled? I've never seen a launch, and this is my last chance.
I;ll be there for the next one- this time I’ll watch from my backyard :)
It appears that all Astros are on board, Comm checks proceeding.
Weather is 90% go.
Proceeding with crew module close out.
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