Space Shuttle launch tonight 6:03 p.m. EDT (updated)

[mlyonsd]

Where is Donger? I'm tired of having to do his job while he's out messing around.

[acesn8s]

I did not realize that there is a blackout every year at the end of June which prevents the shuttle from launching.

[bevischief]

worthless without pics...

[acesn8s]

Delayed. Will try again tomorrow.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

I thought we already did this, and were on our way to the moon.

[mlyonsd]

Bump....new time is Monday 5:51pm CT.

If I knew how to modify the thread title I would so bite me.

[Skip Towne]

Bump....new time is Monday 5:51pm CT.

If I knew how to modify the thread title I would so bite me.

You'll never know how to modify the thread title. It's a secret.

[Donger]

I hope she flies today, but the weather looks like crap.

[Donger]

I did not realize that there is a blackout every year at the end of June which prevents the shuttle from launching.

Huh?

[Donger]

T-2:44 and counting.

[acesn8s]

Huh?At the end of June there is radio transmition blackout that prevents ground control to speak with the shuttle. It is cause by the sun's position in relation to NASA's equipment or some shit like that.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

T-2:44 and counting.

Didn't we do this already?

[Donger]

At the end of June there is radio transmition blackout that prevents ground control to speak with the shuttle. It is cause by the sun's position in relation to NASA's equipment or some shit like that.

Where did you hear that?

[acesn8s]

Where did you hear that?Read it on NASA's website. We went to FL a couple of weeks ago and I was trying to see if we could watch a launch. After they delayed the last mission I thought our chances were good. But they said that they can't do a re-entry due to the blackout. That is why it was delayed until now.

[Donger]

Read it on NASA's website. We went to FL a couple of weeks ago and I was trying to see if we could watch a launch. After they delayed the last mission I thought our chances were good. But they said that they can't do a re-entry due to the blackout. That is why it was delayed until now.

It had nothing to due with "June." After the last launch attempt was scrubbed due to a hydrogen leak, they had to clear the range for the MRO launch.

[acesn8s]

It had nothing to due with "June." After the last launch attempt was scrubbed due to a hydrogen leak, they had to clear the range for the MRO launch.We missed that one by 3 hours. Had we known it got delayed we would have made it.

[Donger]

T - 20 minutes and holding. Weather not looking good.

[Donger]

T - 9 minutes and holding.

[Donger]

Scrubbed again.

[acesn8s]

T - 9 minutes and holding.Should get an update at 5:42 cdt?

[mlyonsd]

No go due to weather. They'll determine within 30 minutes to try tomorrow or Wednesday.

[acesn8s]

nevermind

[Donger]

Endeavour is fully-tanked and is scheduled for a 6:03 EDT launch today. 60% chance of favorable launch conditions.

[Skip Towne]

Endeavour is fully-tanked and is scheduled for a 6:03 EDT launch today. 60% chance of favorable launch conditions.

I'll bet you are crying "wolf" again. :p

[Donger]

I'll bet you are crying "wolf" again. :p

If she doesn't fly today, I'll leave forever.

[Skip Towne]

If she doesn't fly today, I'll leave forever.

Nah, it's not that serious.

[Donger]

Red conditions presently on virtually all weather conditions right now. Hopefully it'll clear up in a few hours.

[mlyonsd]

Endeavour is fully-tanked and is scheduled for a 6:03 EDT launch today. 60% chance of favorable launch conditions.

I knew if I waited long enough you'd crack and bump the thread.

It's bad luck when I do it.

[Donger]

Astronauts strapping in now.

[FAX]

That's good thinking on the part of those astronauts.

FAX

[Donger]

That's good thinking on the part of those astronauts.

FAX

It's one of the first application exam questions.

[Donger]

Hatch has been sealed and locked. To the ship!

[Alton deFlat]

Print 'em... oh wait that doesn't apply here.

BTW, a few years ago, my daughter was on a trip to Johnson Space Center, and she was one of two in her group chosen to be inside mission control during a shuttle launch. She had to go through a background check before being allowed. Unfortunately the launch was scrubbed. Not because of bad weather in Florida, but because of bad weather at one of the emergency landing sites.

[Donger]

Print 'em... oh wait that doesn't apply here.

BTW, a few years ago, my daughter was on a trip to Johnson Space Center, and she was one of two in her group chosen to be inside mission control during a shuttle launch. She had to go through a background check before being allowed. Unfortunately the launch was scrubbed. Not because of bad weather in Florida, but because of bad weather at one of the emergency landing sites.

No. A seagull farted in Orlando, violating crosswind max at launch.

[Donger]

T - minus one hour and counting.

[FAX]

Wow. They have to strap in 2 hours before launch, Mr. Donger? What if somebody has to pee, dude?

FAX

[Skip Towne]

Astronauts strapping in now.

They wear seat belts? What pussies.

[Donger]

Wow. They have to strap in 2 hours before launch, Mr. Donger? What if somebody has to pee, dude?

FAX

They wear diapers during ascent and re-entry.

[Donger]

All weather conditions just went green (in a good way) except for an anvil cloud that's still hanging around.

[mlyonsd]

What's the weather looking like?

[mlyonsd]

All weather conditions just went green (in a good way) except for an anvil cloud that's still hanging around.

Cool.

[FAX]

They wear diapers during ascent and re-entry.

Whew. That's good news, right there.

I know that, were I an astronaut, I would have to pee real, real bad at or around T-10.

FAX

[mlyonsd]

Whew. That's good news, right there.

I know that, were I an astronaut, I would have to pee real, real bad at or around T-10.

FAX

That's why they wear movable visors on their helmets.

If you listen to the launch and what leads up to it on the NASA channel you'll usually hear at some point the astronauts being ordered to lower their visors.

This isn't for the flight, this is because one of the 7 crapped his pants and they're afraid one of the other 6 will barf in the cabin if they smell it.

[ChiTown]

Whew. That's good news, right there.

I know that, were I an astronaut, I would have to pee real, real bad at or around T-10.

FAX

Pee wouldn't be my issue. At T-10, I'd be crappin my pants..........

["Bob" Dobbs]

They wear diapers during ascent and re-entry.AND when they're driving cross-country to kill their lover.

[Reerun_KC]

AND when they're driving cross-country to kill their lover.

ROFL

[Donger]

Whew. That's good news, right there.

I know that, were I an astronaut, I would have to pee real, real bad at or around T-10.

FAX

Well, Alan Shepard actually did pee his suit during the wait for Freedom Seven (our first manned launch) to launch. And he wasn't wearing a diaper.

[Donger]

All weather green. T - 29:15

["Bob" Dobbs]

That's why they wear movable visors on their helmets.

If you listen to the launch and what leads up to it on the NASA channel you'll usually hear at some point the astronauts being ordered to lower their visors.

This isn't for the flight, this is because one of the 7 crapped his pants and they're afraid one of the other 6 will barf in the cabin if they smell it. Talk about "ascent". :)

["Bob" Dobbs]

All weather green. T - 29:15Not to pick a nit, but wouldn't it be 1:29:15?

[Donger]

Not to pick a nit, but wouldn't it be 1:29:15?

There are two built-in holds coming. One at T - 20:00 and then another at T - 9:00

["Bob" Dobbs]

Now I'm confused. NASA TV shows T-~20 min or so, but I thought the launch was at 1703 Central, which is over an hour away????

[Donger]

T - 20:00 and holding. Ten minute hold.

["Bob" Dobbs]

Oh OK. Gotcha.

[Donger]

Now I'm confused. NASA TV shows T-~20 min or so, but I thought the launch was at 1703 Central, which is over an hour away????

That's correct. The holds at 20 and 9 last a specific amount of time, barring any issues. So, when you add the two remaining hold times to the countdown clock, it will add up to 6:03 EDT.

[mikey23545]

I live about 50 miles away from the Cape, and so far this is the best the weather has looked this close to launch.

The last several days it has been pouring at this time.

["Bob" Dobbs]

That's correct. The holds at 20 and 9 last a specific amount of time, barring any issues. So, when you add the two remaining hold times to the countdown clock, it will add up to 6:03 EDT.Actually, I knew that and just plain forgot. My bad.

[Donger]

T - 15:00 and counting

[Coogs]

That's correct. The holds at 20 and 9 last a specific amount of time, barring any issues. So, when you add the two remaining hold times to the countdown clock, it will add up to 6:03 EDT.

So the last hold at 9 minutes is nearly a 45 minute hold?

[Donger]

So the last hold at 9 minutes is nearly a 45 minute hold?

Yes. Countdown will (hopefully) hold at 9 minutes at 5:09 EDT and resume at 5:54 EDT for a 6:03 EDT departure.

[Coogs]

Yes. Countdown will (hopefully) hold at 9 minutes at 5:09 EDT and resume at 5:54 EDT for a 6:03 EDT departure.

So it is OK to turn the channel for a while, and not miss anything?

[Donger]

So it is OK to turn the channel for a while, and not miss anything?

Heh. Yes. They won't go early and the launch window is only five minutes.

[Donger]

T - 9:00 and holding. Count resume in 45 minutes.

[mikey23545]

So far, weather here and off to the south (in the direction of the Cape) still looks pretty good.

[Donger]

16 minutes remain in hold. Go/no-go calls coming up soon.

[Donger]

No constraints to launch, Endeavour is go!

[Donger]

T - 9 minutes and counting!

[Donger]

Ground launch sequencer initiated.

[Donger]

OAA retract

[Donger]

T - 6:30 and counting

[FAX]

Is that good or bad?

FAX

[Donger]

APU pre-start

[Donger]

Is that good or bad?

FAX

That's good.

[Donger]

T - 3 minutes. Aero checks complete.

[BigMeatballDave]

I just turned it over to the NASA channel on Directv. Too bad this isn't HD.

[Donger]

Beanie cap retract

[Donger]

Close and lock visors

[Donger]

T - 1:30

[Donger]

T - 60 seconds

[Donger]

Internal power

[Donger]

Auto sequence start

[BigMeatballDave]

Awesome. This never gets old.

[Donger]

Liftoff!

[Donger]

Roll complete

[Donger]

400 mph 5800 feet

[Donger]

Max Q

[Donger]

Throttle up

[Donger]

1,200 mph 60,000 feet

[Donger]

1,900 mph 90,000 feet

[Donger]

SRB seperation

[Donger]

3,100 mph 37 miles up

[Donger]

56 miles up, 5,600 mph

[Donger]

Negative return

[Donger]

Press to ATO

[Donger]

8,300 mph

[Donger]

Press to MECO

[Donger]

Single engine Zaragoza

[Bugeater]

Are we there yet?

[Donger]

Single engine press 104

[allen_kcCard]

Double Duper Bouble ERO

[Donger]

12,700 mph

[Monty]

They've already traveled the same distance as Dallas to KC. I'd love to travel to KC in 10 minutes. :thumb:

[Donger]

MECO!

[Donger]

Nominal MECO. No OMs required

[FAX]

I don't think they should have retracted the beanie cap.

FAX

[Donger]

I don't think they should have retracted the beanie cap.

FAX

The propeller doesn't provide additional thrust.

[Donger]

Endeavour now passing over the UK.

[mikey23545]

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/441/shuttle.th.jpg (http://img521.imageshack.us/i/shuttle.jpg/)

The view from my front yard.

[mikey23545]

I was also lucky enough to see all the faked Apollo flights lift off from my yard back in the day...

[Bugeater]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZvB27cZmue4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZvB27cZmue4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[FAX]

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/441/shuttle.th.jpg (http://img521.imageshack.us/i/shuttle.jpg/)

The view from my front yard.

Okay. That's cool.

FAX

[Donger]

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/441/shuttle.th.jpg (http://img521.imageshack.us/i/shuttle.jpg/)

The view from my front yard.

Yeah, well, I can see Pikes Peak from my office!

Bastard...

["Bob" Dobbs]

I was also lucky enough to see all the faked Apollo flights lift off from my yard back in the day...Well, obviously, we should ignore you on this, since you're in on the conspiracy.

:D

How far away are you from the Cape? That'd be SO fucking cool.

["Bob" Dobbs]

At the end of June there is radio transmition blackout that prevents ground control to speak with the shuttle. It is cause by the sun's position in relation to NASA's equipment or some shit like that.By the way, there are 2 windows of satellite blackout per year, near the equinoxes. There is a period of up to 10-15 minutes a day for a period lasting a week or two where the comm satellites basically eclipse the sun. In other words the sun is pointed straight at the recieving dish. The noise from the sun completely overwhelms the intended data. I can see where launch & recocery options would be limited there.

[Donger]

Endeavour scheduled to land at KSC tomorrow at 10:47am EDT.

[Donger]

27 minutes from de-orbit burn.

[Donger]

Weather is green. Go on de-orbit burn.

[Donger]

Six minutes until burn.

[mikey23545]

Is that radioactive shuttle getting ready to come back to earth?

The weather around here looks great for a Cape landing.

[Donger]

OMS burn coming up. Will fire for 2:51.

[Donger]

Is that radioactive shuttle getting ready to come back to earth?

The weather around here looks great for a Cape landing.

Yep. Landing on 15 so she'll be coming from northwest to southeast. Lucky you.

[Donger]

Two good engines. Slowing by about 200mph/second.

[Donger]

Good burn, no trim required. Now she falls.

[Donger]

Atmosphere interface around 10:21 EDT. Speed 18,000 mph, altitude 400,000 feet.

[Donger]

On the ground in 41 minutes, preferably with the wheels down.

[Donger]

Entry interface in five minutes. Trivia time: the shuttle's descent rate is 20 times what you experience on a commercial aircraft landing.

[Donger]

Entry interface over the west coast of South America.

[Skip Towne]

I liked it better when they "splashed down" in the ocean.

[Donger]

I liked it better when they "splashed down" in the ocean.

Well, you'll love Orion then.

[Donger]

Aero surfaces now active. Roll reversals coming up.

[Donger]

25 minutes until landing. 16,500 mph, 350,000 feet

[Donger]

16,000 mph, 245,000 feet. Approaching Panama and Nicaragua.

[Donger]

15,400 mph, 224,000 feet

[Donger]

219,000, 13,500 mph. 18 minutes.

[Donger]

Now over Caribbean, approaching Grand Cayman and Cuba.

[Donger]

11,000 mph, 190,000 feet

[Donger]

14 minutes

[Donger]

Intermittent comms.

[Donger]

Over Cuba.

[Donger]

167,000 feet, Mach 10.

[Donger]

Approaching Florida. 11 minutes.

[Donger]

Over Florida, east coast of Okeechobee

[Donger]

9 minutes, 3,800 mph, 125,000 feet

[Donger]

Take air data

[Donger]

Visual from KSC

[Donger]

1,600 mph

[Donger]

60,000 feet, 1,200 mph

[Donger]

Manual control

[Donger]

Bang! Bang!

[Donger]

3 minutes, 500 mph

[Donger]

On final.

[Donger]

17,000 feet at 400 mph

[big nasty kcnut]

Great landing
Posted via Mobile Device

[Donger]

Flair, gear down.

[Donger]

Touchdown!

[Donger]

Nominal chute.

[Donger]

Wheel stop! That's how you do that.

[mikey23545]

Usually I can hear the twin booms, but I'm up at my store which is about 30 miles further away from the Cape than my house...