Space Shuttle Discovery

#161 Postby **SeaBrz_FL** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:43 pm

GORGEOUS launch!! Even though I'm a second-gen Space brat that's been watching the launches from here since '63, each one still takes my breath away for a while.

Had a big cumulous cloud to go thru seconds after launch, but soared right through --

A few more pics on Photobucket

Frank P -- I hear ya! I worked on the SRB contract for 17 years, and still hold my breath until separation.

SB

southerngale · #162 Postby **southerngale** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:48 pm

SeaBrz_FL wrote:A few more pics on Photobucket

It says I need your password.

Nice pic in your post though!

#163 Postby **P.K.** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:56 pm

Good to see another British astronaut going to space. 8-)

Hope this debris that fell at take off as is being reported on the news here isn't serious.

#164 Postby **SeaBrz_FL** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:57 pm

It says I need your password.

Sorry, southerngale, I had to change an account setting. Should be fixed now.

Thanks for looking!

SB

#165 Postby **Frank P** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:59 pm

great pix Seabrz, as a space brat YOU KNOW what its all about

I've seen hundreds of SSME and RS-68 erocket ngine hot fire tests, and they're awfully exciting to be involved with, heck I even went to Utah and saw a SRB static test hot fire test and that was pretty cool too.... but none of this could match watching a launch.... which I have never seen....

the one missing objective of my aerospace career is for me to see a Shuttle launch.. :cry:

been close a bunch of times but no cigar.... still hoping to see one before its retired....

the launch, as all the pixs that was posted exhibited, was incredible as expected... and looked to be flawless as well (hopefully detailed photo and data review will confirm).... great job Discovery....

its also cool to so many of our board members express such excitement and pride in our space program....

#166 Postby **O Town** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:03 pm

caplan1 wrote:Ive always wanted to see a launch in person. Where is the best place an average Joe (dont know any at nasa) can see this?

Jetty Park, at the Cape. Its on the beach at the port where all the big boats (cruise and gambling) boats go in and out, with a long fishing pier as well. You can also camp there. We saw a rocket go off from there and you can feel the earth vibrate, and hear it well too.

This is a picture of a rocket going up from there. Scroll down to see more pictures.
http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_ ... ewing.html

You should check it out sometime, an awesome place to view launches and not overly crowded.

#167 Postby **SeaBrz_FL** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:06 pm

P.K. -- They are taking it VERY seriously here. Scary end of the day. Here's the latest blog from one of our Space Reporters this hour:

Debris debrief with crew
The crew just a bit more detailed briefing on foam debris.

On the early foam loss, meaning the three or four pieces that came off just after SRB separation, the CAPCOM informed the crew that the preliminary analysis indicates that there was no contact with the orbiter and no resulting damage. He did note that one of the pieces got close to the orbiter.

However, the CAPCOM says there was contact with the orbiter mid-body from the later piece of debris that came off around 4 minutes and 50 seconds into flight.

Mike Fossum, who took part in the crew photography of the external tank as it fell away, noted something else of interest. He thinks that the crew spotted a piece of one of the insulating blankets floating away from the orbiter. He says it was at least four feet long and maybe eight feet. He says he got video of it.

The crew photography will be downlinked ASAP because, as Fossum noted, the pictures are more valuable to the engineers than his words. More to come.

#168 Postby **SeaBrz_FL** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:17 pm

Frank P. wrote:... but none of this could match watching a launch.... which I have never seen.

Frank -- What the heck??!! Not fair that you've worked that long on the program without seeing the results! Get some of those ol' RocketDyne buddies to figure outta way to "need your skills" at KSC around launch time.

Good luck and I really hope you do get to see a live launch.

SB

canegrl04 · #169 Postby **canegrl04** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:19 pm

This is why the Engineer and member of the safety crew left a few days ago. :eek:

It seems the foam problem is FAR from being fixed.Lets all pray that the falling foam doesn't cause major problems for Discovery before its return to earth

Website · #170 Postby **Brent** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 6:12 pm

SeaBrz_FL wrote:GORGEOUS launch!! Even though I'm a second-gen Space brat that's been watching the launches from here since '63, each one still takes my breath away for a while.

Had a big cumulous cloud to go thru seconds after launch, but soared right through --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/ ... 041669.jpg

A few more pics on Photobucket

Frank P -- I hear ya! I worked on the SRB contract for 17 years, and still hold my breath until separation.

SB

Awesome pictures.

#171 Postby **caplan1** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:03 pm

thanks for the info O-town. I truly want to see one.

#172 Postby **dixiebreeze** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:58 pm

Even Dim Dong's 10 missiles couldn't ruin the perfection of this marvelous shuttle launch. Such a coincidence that his first missile was fired just 40 seconds after the Discovery launched -- NOT.

#173 Postby **brunota2003** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:10 pm

From what I heard the blanket looking thing was actually a bunch of ice that had fallen from thne external fuel tank...saw the video on CNN with foam coming off...none appeared to hit the shuttle, though some pieces were to close for my liking...and they also showed the ice...it looked like a blanket falling...but said it was actually ice...

Matt-hurricanewatcher · #174 Postby **Matt-hurricanewatcher** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:17 pm

Can the space station hold the crew of the shuttle if something did come serious with it?

#175 Postby **HurricaneQueen** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:26 pm

Matt, Yes! That is the back up plan if there is any damage. Either we or the Russians would then launch another craft to retrieve them. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Lynn

#176 Postby **Canelaw99** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:45 am

caplan1 wrote:Ive always wanted to see a launch in person. Where is the best place an average Joe (dont know any at nasa) can see this?

If you go to kennedyspacecenter.com and sign up for launch updates, they'll e-mail you when tickets go on sale for launches. My parents and I had tickets for this launch (to view it from the KSC Visitor Complex). We drove up Sat., but it was obviously delayed, and we weren't able to go up yesterday because my parents were flying back to NC. My husband and I viewed the launch of STS-114 last year from the Causeway (closest place NASA will let anyone see it besides VIPs and press) which was incredible!

HurricaneHunter914 · #177 Postby **HurricaneHunter914** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:22 am

I beleive the next launch (which will be for the Space Shuttle Atlantis) will be held in August.

WindRunner · #178 Postby **WindRunner** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:49 am

HurricaneHunter914 wrote:I beleive the next launch (which will be for the Space Shuttle Atlantis) will be held in August.

They're expecting Atlantis, but Discovery could go for the third time in a row as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-115

HurricaneHunter914 · #179 Postby **HurricaneHunter914** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:54 am

Man Discovery is getting all the attention. :lol:

IMO Discovery needs a break and its time for Atlantis to join in on the fun.

Edit: Isn't it the Challenger and the Columbia that are now gone?

StormScanWx · #180 Postby **StormScanWx** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:40 am

Yes.

These are the space shuttles that remain:
-Discovery
-Atlantis
-Endeavour

Endeavour is being repaired at this time.

Space Shuttle Discovery

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