Space Shuttle Launch Upcoming Live on HDNET

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Astronauts just got to the pad, don't know the procedure but shouldn't be too much longer now.


EDIT: 2:45 EST launch so still over 2 hrs away.

[ro_50]

I thought the launch was scheduled for 2:49 P.M. Central time.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I thought the launch was scheduled for 2:49 P.M. Central time.
Probably right, the guy on TV just said 2:49 EST but the AP says 3:49.

[ro_50]

This from the Huntsville Times (Ala):

"Whether Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off as scheduled at 2:49 p.m. CDT won't likely be up to Welzyn. "

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[Bronco_Beerslug]

This from the Huntsville Times (Ala):

"Whether Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off as scheduled at 2:49 p.m. CDT won't likely be up to Welzyn. "

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Just put the countdown timer up and it's at 2:12:30 and counting so it must be 2:49 EST.

Fairly clear weather right now but might have something moving in later.

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http://weather.yahoo.com/images/southeast_sat_440x297.jpg

[ro_50]

I'm worried about this launch. I hope things go well.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I'm worried about this launch. I hope things go well.
Yep, me too. You know those guys are going through tons of anxiety.

[Needa Pass Rush]

They are on a scheduled 45 min countdown hold at t-minus 9 mins. That occured just a couple mins ago. Figure they actually launch at 3:45-:50 EST.

there were no malfunctions when the scheduled countdown hold commenced.

[Needa Pass Rush]

Just put the countdown timer up and it's at 2:12:30 and counting so it must be 2:49 EST.

Fairly clear weather right now but might have something moving in later.

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http://weather.yahoo.com/images/southeast_sat_440x297.jpg

They have some scheduled holds in the countdown, Slugger. Look for it more toward 3:45 EST if all goes according to sched.

[watermock]

New configuration and main fuel tank changes in insulation. The original insulation was supposed to have flourocarbons which was stickier than what replaced it

[Needa Pass Rush]

Launch scrubbed. Dunno details. Probably weather related.

[watermock]

Failure Is Not An Option! Launch It Launch It...

[watermock]

hONESTLY, It's time they take those Edsels offline. It was designed in 1972,

That junk is 35 years old. I have never seen a more moronic federal agency since the department of welfare or the DMV.

[hades]

hONESTLY, It's time they take those Edsels offline. It was designed in 1972,

That junk is 35 years old. I have never seen a more moronic federal agency since the department of welfare or the DMV.

They talked about the new one they are building, it is supposed to repalce the current vehicles in 2010.

The crew would sit above any objects, not like now where there is a fuel tank higher than they are, etc.

Check this out!
http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/cev_front/

[broncos-rock]

God.....I sat out there in the sun all day and a freakin 1/2 an hour before launch they scrub it. What was worse was the traffic back to Orlando about 3 hours for 40 miles. Don't think I'm going out there tomarrow.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

More bad news...

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Crack Is Found in Shuttle's Foam Insulation
By WARREN E. LEARY
Published: July 3, 2006

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., July 3 —Inspectors found a crack in the foam insulation of the space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank early today. NASA managers are meeting to determine whether it will affect a planned liftoff Tuesday afternoon, according to the space agency.

"We don't know if it's a problem or not," spokesman George Diller said today at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Kennedy Space Center, referring to the crack.


http://graphics10.nytimes.com/images/2006/07/03/us/03shuttle.xlarge1.jpg
The shuttle Discovery sat ready to launch Sunday at the Kennedy Space Center, but the liftoff was postponed because of poor weather.

Problems with the insulating foam on the fuel tank have been a concern and a high priority for NASA since pieces of the foam broke away during launch and led to the destruction of the shuttle Columbia on Feb. 1, 2003.

NASA grounded the shuttle fleet after the accident, and spent more than $1 billion to redesign the orbiters, focusing on securing the foam.

On the only flight since then, a mission by Discovery a year ago, the shedding of foam was greatly reduced, but several pieces did break free that were large enough to damage the shuttle's heat shield if they had struck it. Shuttles have not flown since then, while NASA once again addressed the problem, including removing more than 35 pounds of foam and making other changes.

Discovery and its crew of seven had planned to take off on a 12-day test flight on Saturday, but the mission has been delayed twice because of bad weather. The next attempt had been scheduled for Tuesday at 2:37 p.m. Eastern time.

In a statement issued early today, NASA said that overnight inspections of Discovery had found a crack in the foam toward the top of the tank. The crack, it said, was near a bracket that secures a liquid oxygen feed line. The crack measured 4 to 5 inches long and between one-eighth and one-quarter of an inch wide.

CONT (http://tinyurl.com/oo7lt)

[watermock]

One billion dollars to Gomer at the garage.
http://www.edhat.com/assets/images/gomer.jpg

NASA is becoming a laughing stock. Those white elephants are almost 40 years old in design. No way they will launch. It's going to be delayed months. They are way too gun shy with the new configuration as it is. Why we are not working on a new orbiter that doesn't have that gigsaw puzzle of tiles is astounding. You would think we could come up with some sort of unibody to avoid lost/cracked tiles. I'm livid. A billion dollars and they can't get it off the launch pad?

[Spider]

40 years . long time , they do need to get more stealth streamlined Shuttles ......i wish we could find another way to get them into space ....... Like on star trek one of those shuttles ......

[watermock]

We need to add the cloaking device to hide the crashes.

"The Space Shuttle has simply vanished..."

http://members.fortunecity.com/babyboomer/sixties/sixties063.jpg

[Spider]

We need to add the cloaking device to hide the crashes.
;D somthing like that .......