Space Shuttle Launch

[Steven Roy]

NASA TV is currently showing the shuttle preparations.  The main tank is no 40-50% full so they are past the stage where they have hit problems during previous launch attempts.

Looks like we will get a launch today unless the weather screws it up.

[Ian]

Steven, top marks for that, superb to watch it for so long live, gonna have another look later. 

[cosworth151]

Hey, Dare - that Little Buddy Radio tool bar has Labpixies TV in the Gadgets section. You can set it for NASA TV and park it in the corner of your display. That's what I'm doing right now.

[Steven Roy]

I had NASA TV on in the lab all day yesterday and spent half the day explaining to people what was going on.  I went back to my hotel and paid T-Mobile their rip-off price for the only hot spot available.  2 minutes before lift off I lost the pictures and didn't get them back until 2 minutes into the flight.

All that build up and I still didn't see it.

[Steven Roy]

First of three spacewalks in the next weeks live on NASA TV now

[cosworth151]

Thanks. SR. I just brought it up on labpixies.

[Steven Roy]

I am surprised the health & safety people are not up on the space station.  I have just watched one of the astronauts traverse along a couple of the main trusses.  There are an incredible number of exposed edges and potential hand traps.  You would never allow anyone to build something like that on the ground.  How it can be done in space is incredible.

[cosworth151]

Shuttle Atlantis has undocked from the International Space Station and is scheduled to touch down at the Kennedy Spaceport tomorrow (Wed, 20 Feb) at 09:06 edt, 14:06 gmt.

NASA TV will carry the landing.

[Steven Roy]

There are four landing opportunities tomorrow.  The first one Cos has detailed the next one at the same location one orbit (1 hour 30mins ish) later.  Three and four are on the next two orbits at Edwards Air Force base in California.  If none of those happen they have to wait until Thursday.

[Ian]

Just been watching NASA TV, the Earth looks fabulous, I will certainly watch touchdown tomorrow.

[Steven Roy]

It looks like the first landing opportunity will happen.  Weather is good and the crew are suited up and strapping in for landing. If they fail to make either of the first two attempts they may have to wait until tomorrow as the weather forecast for Edwards is less than promising.

The runway they will use at Kennedy is within site of launch pad 39A where the Shuttle Endeavour is preparing for its mission to the ISS scheduled to take off in three weeks time.

[Steven Roy]

http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/index.html

You cabn get live data from the shuttle on the link above.  Normally it gives live data from the ISS.

[Ian]

Brilliant, been watching since about 1pm, great HUD on cockpit with a pilot's view. Smashing stuff Steven. 

[Steven Roy]

I have seen a few of these landings and I never cease to be amazed.  8 minutes before landing it was still at an altitude of 20 miles.

The HUD view is fabulous.

They now have to turn Atlantis so that it is ready to blast off in August to go to the Hubble Space Telescope.  The shuttle Endeavour should take off to the ISS in 3 weeks time.

[Steven Roy]

Unlike the previous mission so far everything is going according to plan for the launch of Endeavour.  The launch is scheduled for 2:28am EST/7:28am UK.  What a stupid time for a launch?