Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Live Thread 8:47 est

12/09/06 | Kevin Davis

[KevinDavis]

T-minus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. The Ground Launch Sequencer has started pulling the orbiter access arm away from the crew hatch on the port side of the vehicle. The arm was the passage way for the astronauts to board Discovery a few hours ago. The arm can be re-extended very quickly should the need arise later in the countdown.

[Central Scrutiniser]

We shoulda bought Energia as well. Nice huge rocket, only flew twice. But this is my favorite rocket:

[Libloather]

...will I be able to see something here in Raleigh?

Get somewhere high and get on your tiptoes. I'll be watching the clear skies from here! Seven minutes to go. You may see something a few minutes afterward...

[Paradox]

Down in South Florida, I usually watch the first 20 seconds on TV, then head outside. Until then, its not high enough.

Gettin butterflies now!

[La Enchiladita]

Thank you! At last....

[COEXERJ145]

Too bad it always went BOOM!

[KevinDavis]

6 mins and counting..

[La Enchiladita]

Ping! Hope you're online...!!!!

[NormsRevenge]

maybe a few degrees ,, 5 6 7 degrees or so,, there is a chart on the space.com page that had some info for east coasters in different cities on where to look..

[Pepper777]

I tried to find for you. Glad you found it. ;) I'm watching Nasa Cable TV.

T-6 minutes and counting. Won't be long now. ;)

[KevinDavis]

T-minus 5 minutes, 30 seconds. APU pre-start is complete and the units are ready for activation. The orbiters flight data recorders have gone into the record mode to collect measurements of shuttle systems performance during flight.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Yep, the Soviets could not build the engine bells large enough, so they had to build lots of engines.

Lots of engines = lots of chances for mistakes.

[KevinDavis]

T-minus 5 minutes. The "go" has been given for for Auxiliary Power Unit start. Pilot Bill Oefelein is now flipping three switches in Discovery's cockpit to start each of the three APU's. The units, located in the aft compartment of Discovery, provide the pressure needed to power the hydraulic systems of the shuttle. The units will be used during the launch and landing phases of the mission for such events as moving the orbiter's aerosurfaces, gimbaling the main engine nozzles and deploying the landing gear.

Over the course of the next minute, the orbiter's heaters will be configured for launch by commander Mark Polansky, the fuel valve heaters on the main engines will be turned off in preparation for engine ignition at T-6.6 seconds and the external tank and solid rocket booster safe and arm devices will be armed.

[markman46]

no problem

[La Enchiladita]

Gracie, live feed link in post #259...

Thanks, Island Jeff!

[Frank_Discussion]

Thanks Kevin, cats, room full of rocking chairs, that sort of thing...

[Howlin]

Damnit, I'm going to go to Florida for the next one!!

[COEXERJ145]

When they realized that they wouldn't be able to make it to the moon with the N-1, they considered using it as an ICBM to throw their 100 megaton nuke but that idea didn't go very far.

[Pepper777]

Thanks, IJ~~ ;)

T Minus 4 Minutes and Counting~

[La Enchiladita]

Glad you're here...!!!