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STS-133: Space Shuttle Discovery's Final Launch - Live Thread
NASA ^ | 02/23/2011 | n/a

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: deathtrap; discovery; fl; florida; nasa; spaceshuttle
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To: Not now, Not ever!

Preparing to close the access door.


61 posted on 02/24/2011 11:57:10 AM PST by Not now, Not ever! (Girlfriend suggested I use pelosi in place of swear words, A good idea, I think)
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To: Not now, Not ever!

The hatch is closed.


62 posted on 02/24/2011 12:06:46 PM PST by Not now, Not ever! (Girlfriend suggested I use pelosi in place of swear words, A good idea, I think)
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To: Not now, Not ever!

Weather is still a go.


63 posted on 02/24/2011 12:31:43 PM PST by Not now, Not ever! (Girlfriend suggested I use pelosi in place of swear words, A good idea, I think)
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To: Not now, Not ever!

It appears that the cabin close-out crew was removing a piece of tape from the hatch and pulled off a small chunk of a protective tile. They’re evaluating it at this time.

I’d hate to think they’ll scrub this thing just because the close-out crew fudged up the door.


64 posted on 02/24/2011 12:51:44 PM PST by hoagy62 (I am a optimistic pessimist. I am positive that the world is going to Hell.)
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To: Not now, Not ever!

A small tile ding, near the hatch, has been patched.


65 posted on 02/24/2011 12:58:12 PM PST by Not now, Not ever! (Girlfriend suggested I use pelosi in place of swear words, A good idea, I think)
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To: KevinDavis
Nicole of Discovery crew is from Clearwater, FL.

It's overcast today - probably won't be able to see the launch from our backyard. Discovery flew over my house in 2007 returning to the cape.

66 posted on 02/24/2011 1:17:18 PM PST by floriduh voter (The culture of participating being replaced by the culture of taking. Animal Farm?)
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To: Not now, Not ever!

All systems are still go.


67 posted on 02/24/2011 1:26:00 PM PST by Not now, Not ever! (Girlfriend suggested I use pelosi in place of swear words, A good idea, I think)
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Place Mark


68 posted on 02/24/2011 1:29:12 PM PST by 2111USMC
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To: 2111USMC

Any one have a link to nasa live.
my usual one is not working.


69 posted on 02/24/2011 1:31:27 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Not now, Not ever!

Range Safety just went NO GO due to a problem with their computer. They’re attempting to fix it in time to launch. Stand by...


70 posted on 02/24/2011 1:33:47 PM PST by hoagy62 (I am a optimistic pessimist. I am positive that the world is going to Hell.)
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To: tet68

Ok got it now.


71 posted on 02/24/2011 1:33:47 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: tet68

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

This is working for me. They just reported a problem with range control.


72 posted on 02/24/2011 1:34:19 PM PST by Never on my watch (WTF happened to my country?)
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To: Not now, Not ever!

Range is a no-go due to computer problems, Windows 7?


73 posted on 02/24/2011 1:36:25 PM PST by Not now, Not ever! (Girlfriend suggested I use pelosi in place of swear words, A good idea, I think)
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To: Never on my watch

Launch Director, Flight Systems, and Mission Control Houston have agreed to allow the countdown to continue to T-5:00 to allow Range Safety to get their problem fixed. If they can’t, then the launch is NO GO.


74 posted on 02/24/2011 1:38:45 PM PST by hoagy62 (I am a optimistic pessimist. I am positive that the world is going to Hell.)
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To: Never on my watch

Thanks for the link


75 posted on 02/24/2011 1:41:43 PM PST by don-o (He will not share His glory; and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.)
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To: KevinDavis; All

Thank you for the ping, as always, Kevin!!
I am tuned in on NASA TV live streaming on web:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html


76 posted on 02/24/2011 1:44:51 PM PST by La Enchiladita (Remember, Reflect, Renew: 2011, 10 years since 9/11. Never Forget.)
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To: hoagy62

All flight departments reporting GO for launch ... except for Range Safety.
Will resume count down to 5 minutes starting at 4:41:27 or so. Will hold at 5 mins.


77 posted on 02/24/2011 1:45:27 PM PST by alancarp (Hi, I could have been in New York state today. So I owe them income taxes for the entire YEAR??)
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To: Pyro7480

Thank you for starting a live thread on this truly historic occasion.


78 posted on 02/24/2011 1:46:43 PM PST by La Enchiladita (Remember, Reflect, Renew: 2011, 10 years since 9/11. Never Forget.)
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To: alancarp

Launch window is only 5 minutes long.


79 posted on 02/24/2011 1:47:39 PM PST by alancarp (Hi, I could have been in New York state today. So I owe them income taxes for the entire YEAR??)
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To: La Enchiladita

I predict...a scrub.


80 posted on 02/24/2011 1:48:11 PM PST by hoagy62 (I am a optimistic pessimist. I am positive that the world is going to Hell.)
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