Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Live Thread (11:59 EDT 8/28/09)

08/27/09 | Kevin Davis

[KevinDavis]

This is the live thread of the Space Shuttle Discovery Launch... I figure I do it now..

[Textide]

Waiting here too!

[KevinDavis]

Mission Control in Houston is loading Discovery’s onboard computers with the proper guidance parameters based on the projected launch time.

[KevinDavis]

Now one hour away from launch. All systems are working properly and the current weather is within limits.

[KevinDavis]

The Main Propulsion System helium system is being reconfigured by pilot Kevin Ford. Soon the gaseous nitrogen purge to the aft skirts of the solid rocket boosters will be started.

[KevinDavis]

The Spaceflight Meteorology Group based in Houston, which is the group that handles weather at the shuttle landing sites, confirms conditions are observed and forecast “go” at the Kennedy Space Center for Return to Launch Site (RTLS).

[KevinDavis]

Attention: Florida Space Freepers.. If you can you post pictures of the night launch for those who don’t live in Florida.. Thank you..

[KevinDavis]

T-minus 9 minutes and holding. Countdown clocks have gone into the planned 45-minute, 37-second built-in hold. Launch is targeted for 11:59:37 p.m. EDT. Today’s available window to get the shuttle off the ground extends just five minutes to 12:04:29 a.m. EDT.

[KevinDavis]

At launch, the space station will be flying 225 miles above the Indian Ocean southwest of Tasmania. Liftoff at 11:59 p.m. EDT is timed to place Discovery on course to dock with the station Sunday night.

[KevinDavis]

40 mins and counting...

[TomGuy]

[JerseyJohn61]

Getting Psyched!

[KevinDavis]

The reusable solid rocket boosters, built by ATK, provide the primary thrust to propel the space shuttle away from Earth during the initial two minutes of flight. The 11 sections on each booster flying on Discovery are refurbished hardware. The upper cylinder on the left-hand booster, for example, flew on STS-5 in 1982. In all, the twin boosters flying this morning have reused segments and pieces that trace back to 64 previous shuttle launches and 20 ground test-firings.

The boosters will parachute into the Atlantic Ocean where a pair of retrieval ships are standing by to recover the rockets and tow them back to shore, beginning again the process to disassemble, refurbish and reuse the hardware in the future.

[TomGuy]

[crager]

I’m thinking of going down to watch in Feb. If you don’t mind, where is a good place to view a liftoff...thanks

[KevinDavis]

30 minutes to go..

[KevinDavis]

The current observed and forecast weather for launch time remain “go” for tonight’s flight of space shuttle Discovery.

[KevinDavis]

Powering space shuttle Discovery throughout its eight-and-a-half minute climb to orbit will be the three main engines built by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. The cryogenic powerplants are fed with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen stored in the external fuel tank.

In the engine No. 1 position today is the Block 2-2052 engine now making its eighth launch. It has accumulated 4,613 seconds of total firing time on the previous missions, plus ground testing. STS-99 was its debut flight.

Making its ninth launch is the Block 2-2051 in the engine No. 2 position. This powerplant has 5,132 seconds of firing time including ground tests and launches starting with STS-96.

And Block 2-2047 is engine No. 3 on Discovery. It has 12 previous flights, starting with STS-91, and some 6,650 seconds of firing time.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Anybody know if we can still see the launch up the East Coast as it was projected for the first aborted launch?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Weather Channel just reported that things look good for the launch.

[mojo114]

Surely the the weather is a huge problem at least in northern East Coast.