Will the Space Shuttle Discovery launch this weekend for a 'pedestrian mission'?

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The space shuttle Discovery is set to launch on a mission deemed "pedestrian" by NASA, with liftoff initially scheduled for Saturday but postponed due to weather. Concerns about safety and management practices have been raised, particularly regarding foam shedding from the fuel tank, which some engineers argue should be addressed before launching. Despite these concerns, NASA's head, Mr. Griffin, has overruled engineers, asserting that the risk of a foam incident is not significant. The discussion also touches on the role of Russian Soyuz rockets in supporting the International Space Station (ISS) during shuttle groundings. Ultimately, the mission successfully launched and returned safely, marking a significant achievement for NASA.
  • #51
Evo said:
Cool video, don't give up before it hits the water. Click on "Solid Rocket booster video"

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/sts-121_front/index.html

:smile: What a great ride! Where can we get tickets?
 
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  • #52
I know, it made me want to go up. Watching it go up really made me envy the astronauts inside. Damn, if there was a place to sit in that thing, I'd buy a ticket. :biggrin:

It appears that the rocket stayed upright out of the water?
 
  • #53
Evo said:
I know, it made me want to go up. Watching it go up really made me envy the astronauts inside. Damn, if there was a place to sit in that thing, I'd buy a ticket. :biggrin:

It appears that the rocket stayed upright out of the water?
Possibly, it drops by parachute and is hollow - so it is supposed to float - unless the seals leak. :rolleyes:
 
  • #54
Space Shuttle Discovery ended STS-121’s stay at the International Space Station when it undocked at 6:08 a.m. EDT Saturday. Undocking occurred as the two spacecraft flew above the Pacific Ocean north of New Zealand.

Discovery remains on track for a scheduled touch down at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 9:14 a.m. Monday.
Let's hope for a safe trip home and a safe landing at Kennedy Space Center on Monday morning.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts121/mission_docs/landing.html
 
  • #55
DISCOVERY is safely back on the ground!
 
  • #56
The STS-121 astronauts returned home today from a successful mission to the International Space Station when Space Shuttle Discovery touched down at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Landing occurred at 9:14 a.m. EDT.

Discovery gave the United States a birthday present when it launched July 4. STS-121 spent just under 13 days in orbit, with almost nine days at the station. Discovery delivered supplies, equipment and a new Expedition 13 crew member to the orbital outpost.
Successful mission and crew home safely! :-p :approve: :cool: :smile:
 
  • #57
A picture perfect landing.

I wonder what the cost per mission is now given the entire history of the program.
 
  • #58
woooooooooooooooooooot!

next stop! MARS! (but not before I can hitch a ride!)
 
  • #59
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5196804.stm

Shuttle edges to night launches

The US space agency wants at least one more daylight launch for the shuttle before it will allow a night lift-off.

The article also includes another interesting news about a possible Hubble mission. :smile:

That could be good news also for the Hubble Space Telescope. It requires servicing to extend its life - a mission that can only be conducted by a shuttle. Dr Griffin told BBC News a firm decision would come later in the year.

"We have a lot of data to go through before we know whether or not we can do a Hubble flight; and we will probably announce that this Fall."
 
  • #60
Has anyone picked up a NASA mission patch for this one?
 
  • #61
Less than three days to go to scheduled launch for Atlantis and STS-115.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html (gives current information, so it will be different after STS-115)
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/index.html

The countdown officially began at noon EDT yesterday, at the T-43 hour mark. The countdown includes about 36 hours of built-in hold time prior to a targeted 4:30 p.m. EDT launch on Sunday; it is the middle point in the launch window that extends for 10 minutes.
 
  • #62
w0000t launch!
 
  • #63
Delay for 24 hrs due to a lightning strike at the Cape.

Launch would be postponed to Monday - weather permitting.
 
  • #64
NASA Working 'Competing Objectives' on Atlantis Launch

During a Saturday evening press conference, Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager LeRoy Cain said that management and engineering teams spent the day tracking two major issues; the impact of a lighting strike at the launch pad last Friday to shuttle flight and ground systems, and the intensity and direction of Tropical Storm Ernesto.

He went on to say that "he is happy to report that the team has finished their lightning strike reviews', and the vehicle has been cleared for launch." He went on to add that Ernesto has slowed slightly, providing them with a few more hours to track the storm before having to make a final decision whether or not to roll the shuttle back to the safety of the Vehicle Assembly Building. A decision will be made at a meeting early tomorrow morning whether to go ahead with a Tuesday launch, roll the vehicle back to the Vehicle Assembly Building, or pursue other options.
They will try to slip out before Ernesto strikes, or they have to roll Atlantis back to the hangar until after Ernesto.
 
  • #65
They're rolling Atlantis back indoors. This is a blow to International Space Station plans.

Lost in the news of Ernesto/Atlantis is even more damaging news for the International Space Station.

Russia mulls new space station, missions to Moon, Mars Russians plan to concentrate on a space station that better meets their own needs.
 
  • #66
hmm...another space race...this time for mars. I better hurry up and graduate!:biggrin:
 
  • #67
  • #68
Let's try this again. :rolleyes:

The six Atlantis crew members flew Saturday morning from their home base in Houston to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where they will begin final launch preparations for mission STS-115.

The countdown officially began at 8 a.m. Sunday (this morning), at the T-43 hour mark, which includes over 30 hours of built-in hold time prior to a targeted 12:29 p.m. EDT launch on Wednesday. The launch time is the middle point in the launch window that extends for 10 minutes.
 
  • #70
Sept. 8, 10:54 a.m. EDT
The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis has been scrubbed until Saturday due to a problem with one of the vehicle's external tank ECO sensors. NASA managers will hold a press conference no earlier than 12:30 p.m. EDT to discuss the sensor issue and tomorrow's liftoff attempt.

The new launch time for Atlantis is targeted for 11:15 a.m. on Saturday.

The ECO sensor issue arose earlier in today's countdown when launch controllers detected a problem with one of the four ECO sensors inside the hydrogen section of the space shuttle's orange external tank. The sensors monitor hydrogen levels inside of the tank and trigger the orbiter's engines to shutdown when gas levels drop below a specified level.
Ugh! Let's try it again tomorrow. :rolleyes:
 
  • #71
Sept. 9, 9:10 a.m. EDT
The hatch into Atlantis' crew cabin has been sealed for flight following the strapping in of all six STS-115 astronauts inside the ship. Commander Brent Jett and his crew are now setting switches and bringing the orbiter's systems online as the countdown to an 11:15 a.m. launch ticks on.

Today's weather around Kennedy Space Center is nicely suited for a space shuttle launch. The current temperature is approaching 80 degrees, with light winds and only a few scattered clouds dotting the sky.

Launch in about 30 minutes!
 
  • #72
A minute to go!
 
  • #73
IT's up...
 
  • #74
Looking great on 3 engines to orbit. :cool: :-p

MCO confirmed.
 
  • #76
Another lauch (STS-116) coming up in about 4 and 1/2 hrs - conditions permitting.

This will be a night launch, at about 8:57 pm EST.

Launch can be viewed live in various on-line video media.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
 
  • #77
Beautiful!
 
  • #78
First Swede in space!
 
  • #79
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