Space Shuttle Discovery

[Frank P]

I can't wait intill the new ship comes out in 2009/2010. It should be more powerful and advance hopefully. In hopefully it will be able to launch at a wider range of times.

the next generation space program launch vehicle, constellation, is not schedule until 2012-2014 at the earliest, depends who you talk to... and that's pretty agressive at that... my best guess is that it will slip probably a year or two... I work for the company that provides the engine propulsion systems... which will be the RS-68 engine, which we test at the Stennis Space Center, used to lift the heavy launch vehicle, and the J-2X, which will be mounted on top of a solid rocket booster used to launch the astronauts... this engine is a redo of the ones used on the Apollo program... with a few upgrades of course... both of these engines use liquid hydrogen and liguid oxygen for propellants...

NASA announced on Friday the names of the next generation of launch vehicles that will return humans to the moon and later take them to Mars and other destinations. The crew launch vehicle will be called Ares I, and the cargo launch vehicle will be known as Ares V. I also might add any catastrophic event with another shuttle would instantly kill the shuttle program and would expedite the new rocket program...

[ericinmia]

I was there today on the beach a handful of miles from the pad. At a relatives condo's private beach... Drove all the way from miami, then back tonight. lol

There were BARELY any clouds even in sight. There were some WAY far east over the atlantic; A few white clouds were also MILES west of the pad.

I think they are being too cautious. Not to come across as brash, or not empathic for the astronauts or their familes. But the purpose of going to space is that we are discovering the unknown. There is an inherent risk... if we are too afraid to take this risk, we will never succeed.

ie. the radiation belt that you must pass through to get to the moon. We knew about it, we knew it could kill the astronauts... but went and succeeded anyway.
-Eric

I won't be able to make it back for the launch if it goes off tomorrow. I have some pics i'll upload later of the sky there.

[Brent]

Not looking good for today either. Even better rain chance. If only they could launch in the mornings(I know they can't).

[jlauderdal]

Not looking good for today either. Even better rain chance. If only they could launch in the mornings(I know they can't).

do you mean this mission cant lauch in the mornings or all missions because there have been many launches in the morning.

[dixiebreeze]

Not looking good for today either. Even better rain chance. If only they could launch in the mornings(I know they can't).

Some of my family drove over the cape yesterday, but got caught in a huge traffic gridlock around Orlando and ended up going to Sea World instead! I agree, there is more bad weather over the Cape today than yesterday.

[Brent]

Not looking good for today either. Even better rain chance. If only they could launch in the mornings(I know they can't).

do you mean this mission cant lauch in the mornings or all missions because there have been many launches in the morning.

It has to do with the position of the Earth and the Space Station. They have to be lined up and that leaves only a 10-minute window each day. It just so happens that this weekend it's mid-afternoon when they have to go.

[dixiebreeze]

No way the shuttle will fly today, judging by this:

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/gmex/avn-l.jpg

[no advance]

Somedays it clears out in the afternoon after a morning rain. Pretty steamie out there. If they could only launch later on today around 6 or so would be perfect.

[jlauderdal]

Somedays it clears out in the afternoon after a morning rain. Pretty steamie out there. If they could only launch later on today around 6 or so would be perfect.

nasa tv does a very nice job with live coverage on directv channel 376 which i am watching or hit the following link..

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html


they are in the shuttle now loading up, i cant beleive they are going to get this off today but they are giving it a shot, enjoy the coverage.

[jlauderdal]

hit this link to see how their criteria is being met for a go..doesnt look good now

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/cou ... 1large.jpg

[jlauderdal]

hit this link to see how their criteria is being met for a go..doesnt look good now

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/cou ... 1large.jpg

Scrubbed for 48 hrs, maybe we get a july 4th launch but i think that is optimistic based on the wave and its lack of progression. AJC3 is much more qualified to give us an opinion on the chances.


Jim

[canegrl04]

I agree that one more shuttle disaster and the program will be scrapped forever.Since Columbia,I get extremely nervous with each new launch.We shouldn't have to be on pins and needles so much.Time for the new generation of space vehicles.An editorial in the LA Times also calls for the cancellation of the Space SHuttle

[StormScanWx]

Scrubbed again....

Maybe we'll get a nice Independence Day gift.

[cycloneye]

Now the window to launch is at 2:38 PM EDT on the 4th of July.

[CHRISTY]

So its a no go guys....i was kind of expecting that with all these thunderstorms hanging around florida.thanks for the heads up luis.

[bvigal]

I was there today on the beach a handful of miles from the pad. At a relatives condo's private beach... Drove all the way from miami, then back tonight. lol

There were BARELY any clouds even in sight. There were some WAY far east over the atlantic; A few white clouds were also MILES west of the pad.

I think they are being too cautious. ...-Eric

I won't be able to make it back for the launch if it goes off tomorrow. I have some pics i'll upload later of the sky there.

Eric, really too bad they weren't able to launch yesterday while you, and I'm sure many others, were taking advantage of a Saturday to be there and watch.

Yesterday I ran nasatv on my computer until the scrub. They said anvil clouds (2 of them) were in the vicinity. I pulled up the radar and one thunderstorm was near Orlando, which isn't too far away. I don't know where the other one was located.

They went on to explain that the risk of lightning is much higher with these (tall) clouds. It not only has to be clear at the launch, but downrange past the possible (don't remember what they call this) escape/abort area. And since lightning can travel laterally, what is it-40 miles?, they have calculated risk factors, and weather can be beyond the naked eye but still too much risk for launch.

Maybe the next window you can be there, I hope so!!

[Scorpion]

I find it ridiculous that they think they can find an afternoon with no thunderstorms within 50 miles of the launchpad during the summer. Just not gonna happen.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

A few quastions...

1# Would it be safe enough at least I think so to launch with thunderstorms 20 miles away. I don't think theres much of a chance for lighting to travel that far.

2# Since the controls are in the shuttle if the captain/comd of the shuttle went for it in launched the shuttle even when nasa said no go. What would happen? Also he is the top guy that should make the choices at least in the movies he is.

Just been thinking about these quastions for a few days.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Those thunderstorms crossed the state and produced tropical storm
force wind gusts over Tampa Bay.
Gusts over 40 mph were recorded near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

[WindRunner]

A few quastions...

1# Would it be safe enough at least I think so to launch with thunderstorms 20 miles away. I don't think theres much of a chance for lighting to travel that far.

2# Since the controls are in the shuttle if the captain/comd of the shuttle went for it in launched the shuttle even when nasa said no go. What would happen? Also he is the top guy that should make the choices at least in the movies he is.

Just been thinking about these quastions for a few days.

1. I believe 20 miles is their lightning window, as in lightning within 20 miles of the site will cause a scrub as well.

2. The shuttle would blow up on the pad, or at least sustain some major damage, since NASA ground control must remove the arm holding the top of the shuttle in place. But I'm pretty sure he/she doesn't have enough power to do that alone, without the help of several people on the ground.