Just under 2 hours to Main Engine Start (STS 117) Atlantis launches at 7:38 PM ET tonight.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Just thought a little science shoved in with all the Paris might be a good thing.


Astronauts getting strapped in.

Just remember, while everything else is going on in the world, folks on the Cape are just doing their job.

Pointlessly launching a very expensive, out of date launch vehicle into low Earth orbit where it will do nothing of interest. At least those solid rocket motors will shave a little of the ozone layer off.

Nothing of interest? Really?

OOOOhhhhh! I get it. You think expanding knowledge is a BAD thing. I see.

Well then, this thread is not for you!

The shuttle was designed in the late 60s early 70s. What science is done in near Earth orbit by the shuttle? Very little. The shuttle is a large drag on the space science budget. As an extra benifit it's solid rocket motors destroy the ozone layer. The shuttle can not be justified based on the science it produces, because it produces so little and at a huge cost. The shuttles man job is PR. The real space science is done by America's unmanned program.

Hubble is an unmanned spacecraft? It does notin theory need either a shuttle or manned fight to work. For the cost of ISS and Shuttle we could have launched many more and better Hubbles. Either way the shuttle isn't even allow to goto the hubble anymore. So sorry another swing and a miss.

Just chill out and get over it.

The only fuel that's harmful to the environment comes out of the SRBs, the other engines just make really really hot steam.

"Stupid git"

:eyes:

oh, everythink else is eksplaned in our Syence Manooal, called da byble.

It's got a satellite to spy on the Chinese.

So we can see how they're spending all our money.

a couple of months ago....sadly i didn't see it, as i think it was the first nasa launch in state history

And this one is no different! :hi:

I love to watch launches on NASA's live web tv.

I am watching in multiple windows. :)

:shrug:

i haven't watched a live launch since they wheeled the TV into my 5th grade class (1988?):bounce: :patriot: :popcorn: :web:

What channel is televising the launch?

I want to see it.

;-)

:hi:

Edit: I understand it's only available on the website.

FNC, CNN, MSNBC, and most likely CBS, ABC, FOX and NBC.

:hi:

they're halfway through their 2-hour coverage as I type.

on the right hand side of the page, click "launch video player"

i don't know if it is on any regular tv channel with all the paris news on

Space exploration trumps P.Hilton anyday!

:hi:

Follow the link in the OP above, on the right side of the page (under Watch NASA TV Now) click "launch video player".

:hi:

:woohoo:

It's about the only patriotic thing not completely stolen from us by Bush. GO NASA!

And the most recent launches have left me even more nervous. The hardware is getting pretty old. I hope my fears and premonitions are groundless and that the flight goes off without a hitch.

but that's always in the back of my mind.

http://www.space.com/news/ft_070604_aging_orbiters.html

<snip>
Here's the situation:

Shuttle orbiters are equipped with 24 helium and nitrogen gas tanks that pressurize the shuttle's main propulsion system, orbital maneuvering engines and nose-and-tail steering thrusters.

The spherical tanks provide pressure needed to push rocket propellants into shuttle engines and thrusters at very specific rates required to keep the spaceship on its proper course. Some of the propellants are highly volatile and ignite on contact.

Ranging in diameter from 19 to 40 inches, the tanks have lightweight titanium or steel shells wrapped with the same type of fabric used to make bulletproof vests -- Kevlar -- or carbon graphite. They hold helium and nitrogen gas at extremely high pressures (up to 4,600 pounds per square inch) and are extraordinarily dangerous.

"You certainly wouldn't want a 4-foot-diameter helium bottle that's pressurized to about 4,000 psia to burst on you," Hale said. "That would be a bad thing."

A tank rupture on the ground could lead to a fire or explosion that could injure or kill workers in the launch pad area. A failure in flight could lead to the loss of a shuttle and the astronauts inside.

NASA nonetheless is poised to proceed with the launch of Atlantis and seven astronauts on an International Space Station assembly mission.
</snip>

where he said something to the effect of "Here we sit, on top of what is essentially a several million pound bomb and the next nearest people are 2 miles away!

the primary and secondary abort zones in spain and france

Houston is weighing their options

Where?

to area just outside launchpad...i.e., there will be no launch with personnel in the blast area (if i'm understanding correctly)

If there's not enough money to go around, maybe we can stop spending $40 Billion a year to arrest pot smoking cancer grannies. Maybe we can shave off a little from the half-trillion Military/Industrial Complex.

Man's destiny is among the stars. Fuck the neo-luddites.

If we fuck this rock up too much, which it looks like we are nearing, then we'll need to leave it and/or create mass produced life support system for everyone on Earth. Space exploration will definitely help us in either case.

give or take 25 mins

I'd buy that for a dollar.

:spank:

:D

under 8 min and counting

make that 8000 mph!!!

It's amazing to see these take flight.

Yeah, amazing. :D

But the power of TV makes these just as awesome.

(I watched the Challenger launch from my back yard in Tampa and snapped a couple pictures of it exploding before I realized something bad had happened...which I discovered when I went back inside and looked at the television.)
:-(
edit-fixed minor typo

Did they say half the propellant was used in the first three minutes?

That is one ride I would love to be going on!

:P Wishful thinking...



I hope it is a great success!!

Shuttle crew members are smart, brave and dedicated. The monkey is of course none of those things.

The speed and power is just incredible.

Thank you John Kennedy and everyone at NASA. For a few moments I get to forget how fucked up things are.

i never fail to be amazed at all the engineering that puts what was once a concept on paper into (very fast and loud) motion

There are no words to describe the level of awe looking at that machinery and trying to wrap my head around the idea that people LEAVE THE FUCKING PLANET in those machines.

I watched workers building modules for the space station and again try to get my head around the idea that these guys come to work every day and build SPACECRAFT!!

taken from a cam mounted on the rocket booster;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFk8KCHaP3Q

(Not of the flight just now, but pretty cool)

and watched it from there. Beautiful launch.