Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Live Thread 8:47 est

12/09/06 | Kevin Davis

[cripplecreek]

I'd pay more to watch her burn up on reentry.

[Pepper777]

Thanks for the ping, KevinDavis~~~

Looks like there will be a launch tonight. ;)

[KevinDavis]

Looks like it..

[plsvn]

I'd pay more to watch her burn up on reentry.

You sure? Large objects tend to survive re-entry. We should wish she'd achieve escape velocity.

[jmcenanly]

You can view the launch live at http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060529.html

[AntiKev]

Into the T-20 minute hold.

[KevinDavis]

Would that cause even more destruction of our ozone layer???

[tet68]

T-20 and holding.

[cripplecreek]

We could fire her into the sun if you don't mind knowing that space smells like bacon.

[KevinDavis]

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has paused for a 10-minute built-in hold. Launch is scheduled for 8:47 p.m. EST. Everything is going smoothly with the countdown and weather is still looking good. The clouds and crosswinds are not violating any rules currently.

The launch time forecast calls for scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken deck at 20,000 and winds out of 050 degrees at 8 knot gusting to 14. That equates to a crosswind of just under 14 knots. The safety limit is 15 knots.

During this built-in hold, all computer programs in Firing Room 4 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center will be verified to ensure that the proper programs are available for the countdown; the landing convoy status will be verified and the landing sites will be checked to support an abort landing during launch today; the Inertial Measurement Unit preflight alignment will be verified completed; and preparations are made to transition the orbiter onboard computers to Major Mode 101 upon coming out of the hold. This configures the computer memory to a terminal countdown configuration.

[Unmarked Package]

From the NASA Launch Blog

Did You Know?
When the shuttle lifts off it will weigh 4,521,350 pounds.

[RightWhale]

spaceflightnow.com

The launch time forecast calls for scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken deck at 20,000 and winds out of 050 degrees at 8 knot gusting to 14. That equates to a crosswind of just under 14 knots. The safety limit is 15 knots.

---

A broken deck, but no anvil clouds.

[KevinDavis]

Good part it would keep the Muslims on Earth why we go to Mars and beyond...

[RightWhale]

The Space Shuttle could launch a city bus, fully loaded.

[COBOL2Java]

The Space Shuttle could launch a city bus, fully loaded.

Wow! That means it has nearly enough power to launch Rosie O'Donnell!

[AntiKev]

T-20 minutes and counting.

[KevinDavis]

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The countdown has resumed after a 10-minute hold. Clocks will tick down for the next 11 minutes to T-minus 9 minutes where the final planned hold is scheduled to occur. The hold length will be adjusted to synch up with today's preferred launch time of 8:47:35 p.m.

Discovery's onboard computers are now transitioning to the Major Mode-101 program, the primary ascent software. Also, engineers are dumping the Primary Avionics Software System (PASS) onboard computers. The data that is dumped from each of PASS computers is compared to verify that the proper software is loaded aboard for launch.

[paulat]

Where the heck are ya???!!!

[higgmeister]

big can of bean dip!

[KevinDavis]

Pilot Bill Oefelein is configuring the displays inside Discovery's cockpit for launch while commander Mark Polansky enables the abort steering instrumentation.