shuttle launch

[southerngreen]

any ideas on whether the launch on friday will still be a go?

(wind shear, rain, etc?)

[JonathanBelles]

Im thinking rain is going to be good. The seabreeze should be well on its way to the west coast by then. I agree with the 70% of a go. I wish it was an hour later in the dark, so I could se it.

[hial2]

Im thinking rain is going to be good. The seabreeze should be well on its way to the west coast by then. I agree with the 70% of a go. I wish it was an hour later in the dark, so I could se it.

Down here in Miami night launches are amazing..I remember getting up at 4:00 am to see one,and it's like God decided to paint a red stripe in the sky..

[JonathanBelles]

Same here. We saw the last one. I wanna see a night landing go right over head.

[MGC]

Years ago the shuttle (don't recall which one) passed right over my house at night on the way to KSC. It was glowing white hot trailing an glowing contrail. It was much more spectacular than watching one land during the day. I've seen two shuttles land at Edwards. Being retired Navy I got to sit in the stands.....MGC

[Bellarose]

I saw on the news channels a couple of hours ago (Fox or CNN, I believe) that they are now looking into possible problems with the fuel line or fuel tank. Looks like it's up in the air at this point.

[wolfray]

I was flying into Tampa a few years ago and the Pilot came on the PA and stated if we would look out of the right side of the plane we would see the space shuttle pop up over the horizon. What a sight it was. Can't ask for a better seat than that!!!!!

[hial2]

I saw on the news channels a couple of hours ago (Fox or CNN, I believe) that they are now looking into possible problems with the fuel line or fuel tank. Looks like it's up in the air at this point.

..... or maybe not.. J/K

[Bellarose]

I saw on the news channels a couple of hours ago (Fox or CNN, I believe) that they are now looking into possible problems with the fuel line or fuel tank. Looks like it's up in the air at this point.

..... or maybe not.. J/K

Lol....oops!

[southerngreen]

Bay News 9:


"The clock is ticking down to the first space shuttle launch of the year, as Space Shuttle Atlantis is expected to blastoff Friday at 7:38.

NASA held a launch status briefing Wednesday and said there are no significant issues that would affect the countdown.

"I'm very excited to be back here again," said NASA test director Jeff Spaulding. "Launch countdown started last night and everything's been going well since that point. The t-minus 30-hour point and we're not tracking any significant issues at all to the launch countdown."

[Frank2]

So far so good, as long as the afternoon convection is well away from the Cape at the time of launch:

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

here's the local area forecast discussion from earlier this morning:

...SOME DRIER AIR IS FCST TO WRAP AROUND THIS [LOW PRESSURE] SYSTEM ON ITS NORTHWEST SIDE AND OVERSPREAD[ING] AT LEAST NORTHERN SECTIONS FRI. SO HAVE KEPT FCST DRY FOR NORTH COAST (OMN-CAPE) FRI TRENDING UPWARD TO 30% ALG TREASURE COAST.

[ohiostorm]

I'd love to see a launch. Being in Ohio, we never get that chance.

[O Town]

Hubby was talking about Camping at Jetty Park tomorrow night, if all the sites aren't filled yet. Its right next to the Cape. Night launches are absolutely beautiful on the beach. If we can't camp I really just want to go see the shuttle take off, something my kids will remeber for a lifetime.

[Tropigal]

I saw a nightime launch once and its unforgetable. If you get the chance, I would definitely suggest you go!

[O Town]

I saw a nightime launch once and its unforgetable. If you get the chance, I would definitely suggest you go!

Yeah you know what? I just got to thinking.........shuttle launch is set for 7:38 and it won't be dark yet. *sigh*
I still want to take the kids to see the launch even if it won't be completly dark. Also wondering how long is the launch window? Maybe they will set the clock back 20 minutes or so and it will be dark.

[Frank2]

Lots of showers and thunderstorms forecast for areas near the Cape, especially later today - a launch today looks unlikely at this time...

[O Town]

Hmmm, I dunno all the news channels this morning are not saying that. I still plan on driving out to Cocoa.
Cape Caneveral weather updates are here regaurding the launch. Lets keep our fingers crossed.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... index.html

[Frank2]

Here's the Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service in Melbourne:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php ... MLB&max=10

a Saturday launch looks much more likely at this time, since the highest rain chances today will be along the Treasure Coast, which includes areas just south of Brevard, so...

Frank

P.S. I always thought O-Town was Ocala (ha-ha)...

[Roxy]

There probably won't be anymore "night" launches, as in after dark launches. After the Columbia disaster they groundruled night launches out due to the need for the camera's on the orbiter to view the ET's for debris.

Here is a good place to get mission status:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/s ... tatus.html

"NASA reports no technical problems and forecasters predict an 80 percent chance the weather will allow Atlantis to blast off at 7:38 p.m. Eastern Time."

[Frank2]

As the farmer would say, "lettuce see"...