Author Topic: LIVE: H-IIB launch with HTV-3 - July 21 - Berthing with ISS - July 27, 2012 (Read 158509 times)

yoichi · « **Reply #80 on:** 07/21/2012 01:16 am »

JAXA Web‏@JAXA_en
Third Go/No Go: The green light was given to the X-60 (T-60) minutes terminal countdown operations. #HTV3CDR

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #81 on:** 07/21/2012 01:16 am »

L-50 mins.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #82 on:** 07/21/2012 01:16 am »

Weather team looking at some lightning that may or may not be in the area for launch. Otherwise, vehicle is fueled and ready to go.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #83 on:** 07/21/2012 01:20 am »

15 minutes, 11 seconds for the HTV-3 to get into orbit. A bit longer than we're used to for other ISS vehicles.

EDIT: And an *awesome* shot from JAXA cameras:

kochira · « **Reply #84 on:** 07/21/2012 01:23 am »

Picture of the i-ball data collector test for re-entry vehicle 'blackbox' test.

robertross · « **Reply #85 on:** 07/21/2012 01:23 am »

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #86 on:** 07/21/2012 01:24 am »

Going to do a GO/NO-GO poll with Houston a bit earlier than planned. So far, things look green according to Josh.

L-40 minutes.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #87 on:** 07/21/2012 01:29 am »

Live from the JAXA MCC. Joe Acaba will be responsible for grabbing the HTV-3. Akihiko will then take over and install it to the Harmony Node.

Houston is officially GO for the launch.

Some of the experiments on the exposed pallet:

robertross · « **Reply #88 on:** 07/21/2012 01:33 am »

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #89 on:** 07/21/2012 01:33 am »

Closeup of the H-IIB rocket. L-33 minutes. Reports earlier that they were looking at lightning in the area, doesn't seem to be a major concern at the moment. Still watching, but no reports of anything near the pad.

Weather update: 83.1 degrees fahrenheit, and cloudy.

robertross · « **Reply #90 on:** 07/21/2012 01:35 am »

You can see them hosing down the areas surrounding the pad with water, likely to keep dust down at launch

Beemer · « **Reply #91 on:** 07/21/2012 01:38 am »

Quote from: Ford Mustang on 07/21/2012 01:33 am

Closeup of the H-IIB rocket. L-33 minutes. Reports earlier that they were looking at lightning in the area, doesn't seem to be a major concern at the moment. Still watching, but no reports of anything near the pad.

Weather update: 83.1 degrees fahrenheit, and cloudy.

Those solid rocket boosters look like they're barely attached to the rocket. Guess I am too used to seeing the shuttles SRBs.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #92 on:** 07/21/2012 01:39 am »

Josh hat tip for EOM for STS-135 one year ago.

Chris Gebhardt has an article in work for marking one year on.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #93 on:** 07/21/2012 01:39 am »

Quote from: robertross on 07/21/2012 01:35 am

You can see them hosing down the areas surrounding the pad with water, likely to keep dust down at launch

Correct, Josh noted it helps with acoustic energy absorption (just like Shuttle with the sound suppression system).

Josh also noting that if the launch occurs tonight, it'll be on the night that the STS-135 crew was preparing Atlantis for her final deorbit burn.