STS-133: Space Shuttle Discovery's Final Launch - Live Thread

NASA ^ | 02/23/2011 | n/a

[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.

[Cincinatus]

Range safety just reported no change. Scrub likely.

[don-o]

Doesn’t matter how many time I watch these. the heart rate ramps up a little and the palms get a little bit sweaty.

I was on this board the morning we lost Columbia.

God speed Discovery.

[alancarp]

Yeah, not looking good if they only have 5 minutes extra.

[Gaffer]

Yeah! He the wun who gots the siphon hose pipe to git that gas from the shuttle next door.....

[alancarp]

Countdown is now 5 minutes and holding for Range Safety.

[alancarp]

Whoa... they changed it - only 90 seconds remain on hold window.

[Gaffer]

When have any of NASA's promises about the frequency, efficiency, etc. of the shuttle program proved true? Shoot! These people were talkin' it up like it was gonna be like a scheduled airline operation! Cost? Low, low, low....bwaaaaaahaaaahaaaahhaaaa.

The sooner this program is killed the better. NASA doesn't need to be in the business.

[Not now, Not ever!]

They just went to a go, range problem is fixed.

[alancarp]

RANGE SAFETY IS NOW GO.

[hoagy62]

RANGE IS GO!!!!!

HERE WE GO!!!!

[Gaffer]

Freedom from religion in the form of Muslim outreach.

[don-o]

GO!!

[La Enchiladita]

Is it a GO?!!

[Gaffer]

No argument on wishes for crew safety. I, however, harshly condemn the need at all.

[don-o]

Blast off ping

[alancarp]

YOW - only 2 seconds of launch window wiggle room remains!
3 mins. 45 seconds to go.

[La Enchiladita]

Wow.

[hoagy62]

Stepping away from thread to watch launch.....

[Gaffer]

According to the crew patch earlier, no.

[SE Mom]

Whew- I was about to ping you- not sure if you were here:)

I’ll be going outside shortly to watch- there’s a few clouds here in east Seminole County.