STS120, will be the 120th Shuttle flight |
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STS120, will be the 120th Shuttle flight |
 Oct 22 2007, 07:14 PM
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#1
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 Senior Member  Group: Members Posts: 2920 Joined: 14-February 06 From: Very close to the Pyrénées Mountains (France) Member No.: 682  |
For once, STS number will correspond to actual fight number.
We're less than 24 hours to launch of what is said the most complex fligth of the ISS assembly. One first : The CDR of the shuttle will be a female (Pam Melroy) and she'll be greated by the first female CDR of the ISS (Peggy Whitson) here is the countdown timeline : http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts1...0countdown.html Have a good flight. -------------------- |
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Oct 23 2007, 03:40 PM
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#2
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
And away she goes
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Oct 23 2007, 03:42 PM
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#3
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
Smooth launch thus far, no sign of major foam loss or anything like that... looking good!
-the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Oct 23 2007, 03:44 PM
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#4
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Just saw a bit of ice or foam come off - but it's way beyond that point when the dynamic pressure means it doesn't matter.
Doug |
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Oct 23 2007, 03:46 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
Yep, saw that -- sort of a corner of my eye kind of thing. Looked like a small piece of something, and as you say, way too late in the profile to be of concern.
-the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Oct 23 2007, 03:47 PM
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#6
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 593 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 279 |
The live ET video feed is excellent.
Andy |
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Oct 23 2007, 03:50 PM
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#7
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
And MECO - lovely flight. Harmony + Columbus + Kibo = busy few months
Doug |
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Oct 23 2007, 03:50 PM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
That was a little odd, though -- at ET sep, saw a huge number of little sparklies, more than normal, and there was a continuing flow of high-velocity particles which seemed to come from the direction of flight (behind the camera). More than I can recall on prior missions, anyway.
I'd think that by the time the orbiter had backed off a ways, its RCS wouldn't be impinging on the ET. I wonder what was blowing off the nose of the tank and being propelled back along the flight vector so fast? -the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Oct 23 2007, 03:53 PM
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#9
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Member Group: Members Posts: 593 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 279 |
oDoug - could it be just a lighting issue? I don't recall such a good view in recent flights.
Andy |
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Oct 23 2007, 03:57 PM
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#10
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 Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8783 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Saw that too, Doug; gave me pause...
 Speculation here, but seems like condensation was an issue on this flight...recall the H2 icing issue that they re-examined. Hopefully this was just 'snow'. -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Oct 23 2007, 03:57 PM
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#11
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
Could be lighting -- there was good sunlight along the belly of the orbiter as it separated from the ET, perhaps the sun angle simply was advantageous in highlighting sparklies that are always there.
Interestingly, I thought they weren't supposed to launch into cloud decks as low as the one they launched into...? Maybe the post-Columbia launch restrictions are being eased a bit? -the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Oct 23 2007, 04:16 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2920 Joined: 14-February 06 From: Very close to the Pyrénées Mountains (France) Member No.: 682 |
QUOTE (dvandorn @ Oct 23 2007, 05:57 PM)  Could be lighting -- there was good sunlight along the belly of the orbiter as it separated from the ET, perhaps the sun angle simply was advantageous in highlighting sparklies that are always there. Interestingly, I thought they weren't supposed to launch into cloud decks as low as the one they launched into...? Maybe the post-Columbia launch restrictions are being eased a bit? -the other Doug I saw whatever it was too. Looked like particules coming "our" way at MECO. Talking about clouds they gave me a sense of movement a few minutes before MECO. Regarding cloud decks, they were only scattered; the view from were the clock is showed nearly bleue skies so I guess they had enough clearance should a RTLS had occured. This is my feeling. Now, I'm waiting another hour to see the ISS from where I live (may be not dark enough) and one hour and 15 minutes to see Discovery...I'll tell you. -------------------- |
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Oct 23 2007, 04:45 PM
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#13
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Member Group: Members Posts: 311 Joined: 31-August 05 From: Florida & Texas, USA Member No.: 482 |
This is sweet watching the ISS mature into the final stages of construction. I wonder if there is going to be another strange magnetic moment "moment" when Harmony is connected to the structure. Columbus will be a nice Christmas present!
Is there anywhere I can find a list of scheduled experiments planned for Columbus? Will it be ready for action in 2008? |
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Oct 23 2007, 04:58 PM
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#14
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2920 Joined: 14-February 06 From: Very close to the Pyrénées Mountains (France) Member No.: 682 |
QUOTE (Marz @ Oct 23 2007, 06:45 PM) Is there anywhere I can find a list of scheduled experiments planned for Columbus? Will it be ready for action in 2008? Colombus will be lifted along with two ESA astronauts, Leopold Eyharts and Hans Schlegel, the former be in charge to check validate Colombus during a two months + flight. -------------------- |
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Oct 23 2007, 05:53 PM
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#15
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
QUOTE (Marz @ Oct 23 2007, 05:45 PM) I wonder if there is going to be another strange magnetic moment "moment" when Harmony is connected to the structure. Well- during this flight they'll dock it to one port, then after Discovery leaves, they'll undock the PMA the shuttle used, move it onto the end of Harmony, undock Harmony, and put it back on where the PMA was - so that the next shuttle will dock to Harmony, not Destiny....so if there's a moment, it'll happen twice Doug |
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