Space Shuttle Atlantis lands safely

[JonathanBelles]

Feb. 6
Weather is the watch word at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after meteorologists updated their launch forecast to give space shuttle Atlantis a 30 percent chance of acceptable conditions on Thursday.

Liftoff is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. EST, which is the middle of the 10-minute launch window. The timing is precise so Atlantis can catch up and dock with the International Space Station.

Forecasters expect a cold front to move over Kennedy on launch day and bring with it clouds and storms. Meteorologists also think the front may stall over Central Florida, so they also lowered the chances for acceptable weather if launch attempts are made Friday or Saturday.

Friday's forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of acceptable weather, while Saturday's forecast sets the odds at 70 percent for acceptable conditions.

NASA has strict flight rules for weather that include limits on cloud height, storms in the area and clouds that could produce lightning. The criteria are set in part by the conditions a shuttle would need if it has to make an emergency landing soon after liftoff.

The good news for Atlantis and its crew of seven astronauts is that the shuttle is showing no technical issues and liftoff preparations are continuing at the launch pad and in the launch team facilities.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... index.html

[RL3AO]

I couldn't imagine having to go through that. You get in your suit probably 5 or 6 hours before liftoff. Get in the shuttle a few hours before and just sit there. Then when you are only 30 minutes away they tell you "sorry, we will try again tomorrow".

[Beam]

I couldn't imagine having to go through that. You get in your suit probably 5 or 6 hours before liftoff. Get in the shuttle a few hours before and just sit there. Then when you are only 30 minutes away they tell you "sorry, we will try again tomorrow".

It takes a very special kind of person to do what they do. I'm fascinated by space travel and I'd love to go to space someday, but I don't think I could ever handle the rigors that being an astronaut entails. You have to have nerves of steel, and I just have the regular old nerves.

I really hope they catch a break tomorrow. Godspeed!

[JonathanBelles]

looks good so far, but rain is coming from the west. 1hr 38 mins left.

[JonathanBelles]

Feb. 7, 1:05 p.m. EST
Weather Officer Kathy Winters now forecasts a slightly improved 40-percent chance that weather will allow an on-time liftoff this afternoon at 2:45 p.m. NASA has strict flight rules for weather that include limits on cloud height, storms in the area and clouds that could produce lightning. The criteria are set in part by the conditions a shuttle would need if it has to make an emergency landing soon after liftoff.

With all seven Atlantis astronauts strapped into their seats inside the crew compartment, the Closeout Crew members wished the STS-122 astronauts good luck and best wishes as they secured Atlantis' hatch for launch. The astronauts are now going through final checks inside the orbiter to prepare for their journey to the International Space Station.

During the last few minutes of the countdown, the access arm on the rotating service structure will swing away from the shuttle and the "beanie cap" covering the top of the external tank will lift up and move away.

Liftoff is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. EST, which is the middle of the 10-minute launch window. The timing is precise so Atlantis can catch up and dock with the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Steve Frick commands a crew of six, including Pilot Alan Poindexter and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and the European Space Agency's Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts. This is the first spaceflight for Poindexter, Love and Melvin.

During the 11-day mission, the crew's prime objective is to attach the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station, adding to the station's size and capabilities.

Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani, who arrived at the station aboard Discovery in October, will return to Earth with the Atlantis crew as Eyharts takes his place on the station.

[JonathanBelles]

Weather is still not conclusively good.

[JonathanBelles]

2:20 p.m. - The Mission Management Team is being polled for launch and everyone has reported they are "go" for launch today. The MMT, as it is known, reports that the space shuttle Atlantis is ready for the mission.

this means weather is good now.

[JonathanBelles]

ALL SYSTEMS GO, unless weather changes in the next 10 mins.

[JonathanBelles]

2:35 p.m. – At T-9 minutes and holding . . . Weather is green and all remains on schedule for a 2:45 p.m. liftoff.

[Brent]

Beautiful launch as always.

[HURAKAN]

Beautiful. I saw it in MSNBC.

It always gives me chills to see the launch.

[JonathanBelles]

Atlantis is now safely in space.

[Squarethecircle]

Darn! Got home JUST after 2:46!

[Cookiely]

Now my mother will start watching for earthquake activity.

[Cryomaniac]

Now my mother will start watching for earthquake activity.

Explain?

[HURAKAN]

It should arrive at the ISS this Saturday.

[angelwing]

Now my mother will start watching for earthquake activity.

And I'll be watching for a massive rainstorm

[Cookiely]

Now my mother will start watching for earthquake activity.

Explain?

My mother has a theory that every time there is a launch its followed by an earthquake somewhere. I would have no idea how to prove such a theory when there are earthquakes all the time, but she has seen time and again reports of a large earthquake when they leave or return.

[Cryomaniac]

Now my mother will start watching for earthquake activity.

Explain?

My mother has a theory that every time there is a launch its followed by an earthquake somewhere. I would have no idea how to prove such a theory when there are earthquakes all the time, but she has seen time and again reports of a large earthquake when they leave or return.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_big.php

6 EQs over 5.0 worldwide in the last two days...

[JonathanBelles]

Atlantis has docked at the ISS, the two crews will be united in an hour or so.