Space shuttle Commander Mark Kelly and his five crewmates are scheduled to begin a 14-day mission to the International Space Station with a launch at 3:47 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 29, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
- So, we get something to watch after the Royal Wedding! ;)
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/apr/HQ_11-116_Endeavour_Launch.html (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/apr/HQ_11-116_Endeavour_Launch.html)
I have a local friend whi is flying down to watch from the good seats!
really? man i am so out of touch. how long have they been planning the launch?
Info on the crew:
Pictured clockwise in the STS-134 crew portrait are NASA astronauts Mark Kelly (bottom center), commander; Gregory H. Johnson, pilot; Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency's Roberto Vittori, all mission specialists.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/04/28/meet-veteran-astronaut-crew-endeavours-ride/#ixzz1KpiNrEtg (http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/04/28/meet-veteran-astronaut-crew-endeavours-ride/#ixzz1KpiNrEtg)
It's big news here in Arizona as Mark Kelly's wife is the Congressman who was shot in Tuscon.
This isn't the Mark Kelly who hosts Waffle On is or ;)
I still remember the first launch. It's goin to be a shame to see the last.
This mission of the Endeavour is the second to last shuttle mission. There will be a launch of the Shuttle Atlantis in late June (STS-135).
Really? I'd believed Discovery wa second last. OK then, two to go!
Quote from: Feathers on April 28, 2011, 03:09:16 PM
Really? I'd believed Discovery wa second last. OK then, two to go!
Mike - would I try to fool you? :)
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/index.html (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/index.html)
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/atlantis_rss_collection_archive_1.html (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/atlantis_rss_collection_archive_1.html)
Well yes, you might.... ;)
Actually, I saw one article that stated Discovery's mission was the last one which I knew was wrong. I guess everyone's talking about the last missions for each ship.
Quote from: Feathers on April 28, 2011, 03:42:15 PM
Well yes, you might.... ;)
Actually, I saw one article that stated Discovery's mission was the last one which I knew was wrong. I guess everyone's talking about the last missions for each ship.
Yep - that's the common mistake being made. And, I would never mislead anyone on the Space Program. It's to near and dear to my heart.
Yeah, last mission for Discovery but not last shuttle flight.
boo looks like there's a tech issue...
----
12:18pm ET: Space shuttle Endeavour's launch has been scrubbed due to a problem with one of the orbiter's Auxillary Power Units. The launch will not take place at 3:47pm ET today as planned. Will post an update when we know the next launch window, but we are now told the next window will be longer than 48 hours.
http://www.boingboing.net/2011/04/29/space-shuttle-endeav-2.html (http://www.boingboing.net/2011/04/29/space-shuttle-endeav-2.html)
Quote from: billybob476 on April 29, 2011, 09:39:09 AM
boo looks like there's a tech issue...
----
12:18pm ET: Space shuttle Endeavour's launch has been scrubbed due to a problem with one of the orbiter's Auxillary Power Units. The launch will not take place at 3:47pm ET today as planned. Will post an update when we know the next launch window, but we are now told the next window will be longer than 48 hours.
http://www.boingboing.net/2011/04/29/space-shuttle-endeav-2.html (http://www.boingboing.net/2011/04/29/space-shuttle-endeav-2.html)
Or they wanted to watch the Royal Wedding ;).
Jk.
Bummer though, I wanted to watch it!
King
I've been keeping an eye on this all morning, wanted to mak sure I was home for it. Well, now my afternoon is open but I feel bad for my friend who is down there for the launch, he's going to be in Florida a while longer. His wife is having my wife and a bunch of girls over for a party on Saturday, sounds like trouble...
Shuttle launch delayed until Monday due to troubles with the APU's again.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-shuttle-launch-20110430,0,7986332.story (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-shuttle-launch-20110430,0,7986332.story)
Here's a pic my buddy at the launch took this morning!
Blue skies, smiling at me! ;D
That's a great pic. Too bad they couldn't launch yesterday. The weather looked perfect.
He flew home last night, looks like the delay will be at least until May 8th.
Quote from: Bryancd on May 02, 2011, 06:11:46 AM
He flew home last night, looks like the delay will be at least until May 8th.
:( i hope it's sooner. *yawns* wake me up when it launches :sleep ;D
Quote from: turtlesrock on May 02, 2011, 07:15:15 AM
Quote from: Bryancd on May 02, 2011, 06:11:46 AM
He flew home last night, looks like the delay will be at least until May 8th.
:( i hope it's sooner. *yawns* wake me up when it launches :sleep ;D
Based on the time needed to repair the APU and the launch window timing, Sunday is the earliest.
Levar Burton was at the NASA tweetup, they should have just asked him to fix it!
Quote from: billybob476 on May 02, 2011, 07:49:36 AM
Levar Burton was at the NASA tweetup, they should have just asked him to fix it!
Where's Scotty when you need him? :)
Quote from: Rico on May 02, 2011, 08:35:47 AM
Quote from: billybob476 on May 02, 2011, 07:49:36 AM
Levar Burton was at the NASA tweetup, they should have just asked him to fix it!
Where's Scotty when you need him? :)
:laugh: scotty can fix everything!
Looks like the launch has been reset to one week from now on May 16th if all still continues to go well.
NASA Managers Meet to Discuss Endeavour's Launch
Mon, 09 May 2011 08:37:35 AM EDT
NASA managers have retargeted space shuttle Endeavour's launch to no earlier than Monday, May 16. After a meeting on Friday, they also extended the length of Endeavour's STS-134 mission to the International Space Station from 14 to 16 days. If Endeavour launches on May 16, liftoff would be at 8:56 a.m. EDT.
At 3 p.m. today, NASA Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach will hold a news conference at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to discuss the progress of repairs since Endeavour's launch postponement on April 29. The news conference will air live on NASA Television and online at www.nasa.gov/ntv (http://www.nasa.gov/ntv).
Over the weekend, Kennedy technicians installed and checked out new wiring that bypasses the suspect electrical wiring connecting the switchbox to the heaters. They also ran the heaters for up to 30 minutes to verify they are working properly and complete retesting of the other systems powered by the switchbox. Teams will begin closing out Endeavour's aft compartment and will begin launch countdown preps today.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html)
And my buddy is heading back!
that's one of the problems with watching a launch in-the-flesh, you never know when it's really going to be. :-\
Quote from: turtlesrock on May 09, 2011, 07:46:16 PM
that's one of the problems with watching a launch in-the-flesh, you never know when it's really going to be. :-\
Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops, boy!
Still looking good for a lunch this coming Monday.
The astronauts for NASA's next-to-last space shuttle flight are back in Florida for another try at launching into orbit.
The six crewmen — led by Commander Mark Kelly, the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords — arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday morning.
Shuttle Endeavour is due to blast off Monday morning. The first launch attempt on April 29 was halted by electrical trouble. A switch box was replaced, and new wiring installed.
Kelly's wife was critically wounded in the head four months ago. The Arizona congresswoman recovered well enough to travel for her husband's first launch effort. She will return to Kennedy later this week.
Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff commended Kelly for giving the mission his all, and called him "truly an amazing commander."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/05/12/astronauts-flight-shuttle-endeavour/#ixzz1M9aBB2rp (http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/05/12/astronauts-flight-shuttle-endeavour/#ixzz1M9aBB2rp)
Quote from: Rico on May 12, 2011, 08:47:00 AM
Still looking good for a lunch this coming Monday.
I wonder what they will order... ;)
Quote from: Bryancd on May 12, 2011, 09:37:55 AM
Quote from: Rico on May 12, 2011, 08:47:00 AM
Still looking good for a lunch this coming Monday.
I wonder what they will order... ;)
Tang and dehydrated steak?
Quote from: billybob476 on May 12, 2011, 09:39:50 AM
Quote from: Bryancd on May 12, 2011, 09:37:55 AM
Quote from: Rico on May 12, 2011, 08:47:00 AM
Still looking good for a lunch this coming Monday.
I wonder what they will order... ;)
Tang and dehydrated steak?
lunch! heeheehee! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Ready to launch baby!
Another cool image:
from: http://www.space.com/11659-nasa-shuttle-launch-countdown-endeavour-sts134.html (http://www.space.com/11659-nasa-shuttle-launch-countdown-endeavour-sts134.html)
Light that candle!
..and they are off! Picture perfect launch.
Wooohoooo!
YAY! dance party time! :cheering
Awesomeness! Have a great trip guys aboard Endeavour's final voyage.
Here's a pic someone on a flight caught of Endeavour.
That's just all kinds of awesome!
Video from the perspective if you were in the viewing stands - listen to the crowd's enthusiam - watch the neat cloud reflection.
After the video go to Trey Ratcliff's site to see just about the most original shot of a shuttle launch EVER.
V
video:
http://photos.frembes.com/NASA/Endeavour/16339746_HY3sV#1293717356_WSWwBt6-A-LB (http://photos.frembes.com/NASA/Endeavour/16339746_HY3sV#1293717356_WSWwBt6-A-LB)
Trey Ratcliff's 50 mm shot
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2011/05/17/space-shuttle-launch/ (http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2011/05/17/space-shuttle-launch/)
Nasa has posted this 36 minute video of the view down the booster rocket to the shuttle - great shot. It continues as the booster rockets separate and then spin in space for some time. There are several sequences showing different views, all interesting, including as the booster rocket parachutes open up and they eventually hit the ocean. Real Science!
V
New Views of Endeavour's Launch from Booster Cameras (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJla-JsVNpw#ws)
Very cool stuff! Thanks for posting.
Wow, here's a long exposure shot of Endeavour docked. The exposure is long enough to cause the city lights below to blur and make the stars much more noticeable. Welcome home!
i haven't seen stars that clear since stargazing in central oregon. nice pic!
Admit it, Joe, you just posted this pic as you can clearly see the shuttles robotic arm....which was built in Canada!! :)
Actually the SPAR offices were right near my parents house when I lived in Montreal. Love me my Canadarm :)
Welcome home!
for a second i thought that the person in the middle was doing the live long and prosper hand signal XD
too much trek... :D