Author Topic: LIVE: STS-120: Launch Day / Flight Day 1 - Oct 23 (Read 106994 times)

sts1canada · « **Reply #300 on:** 10/23/2007 04:54 pm »

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ksc_houston - 23/10/2007 12:46 PM

Anyone has the TWO-LINE ELEMENTS for the shuttle ? I need them to track Discovery.

Use the elements from JSC from this link below:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/SSapplications/Post/JavaSSOP/orbit/SHUTTLE/SVPOST.html

You will have to cut and paste the TLE information from this link to a file that you save for your TLE information.

Right now use the 2nd one down the page for Post OMS 2 vectors ie. coasting arc #2 (these are estimated vectors but they are close enough for accurate tracking results). In a couple of hours (12 hours from now or so) I would try a site like www.celestrak.com
that will have up to date TLEs during the mission. Thanks.

Richard

Felix · « **Reply #301 on:** 10/23/2007 05:01 pm »

Davejfb · « **Reply #302 on:** 10/23/2007 05:01 pm »

An amazing picture.

sts1canada · « **Reply #303 on:** 10/23/2007 05:02 pm »

For those using the TLE information that I linked to above, remember to update your TLE's using the TLE information from Coasting arc #3 after the NC-1 burn occurs, around 2:30 PM EDT (6:30 PM GMT) or your tracking information will be wrong after that time.

Richard

dawei · « **Reply #304 on:** 10/23/2007 05:06 pm »

If I were a reporter at this briefing, I would want to ask about Boeing Safety and S&MA being no go for launch and (as far as I understand it) being over ruled by MMT. Anybody else with this question?

Chandonn · « **Reply #305 on:** 10/23/2007 05:07 pm »

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Jorge - 23/10/2007 12:49 PM

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Chandonn - 23/10/2007 11:44 AM

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Jorge - 23/10/2007 12:39 PM

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Chandonn - 23/10/2007 11:30 AM

Watching the ET cam, and how much the skin of teh ET shakes and moves, it's easy to see how difficult it is to mitigrate foam and ice liberation.

That's not the skin of the ET. The ET camera is mounted in the LOX feedline fairing and most of the bottom of the camera field of view is dominated by the LOX feedline itself. That's what you're seeing shaking, not the skin of the ET itself.

I would expect the shuttle to be shaking as well if that's the case, but it doesn't seem to be in the camera view.

Why would you expect the orbiter to be shaking if the LOX feedline is shaking? You do realize the feedline isn't rigid and doesn't form the structural connection between the orbiter and the ET, right?

Perspective. If the ET appears to be shaking, when in fact it's the camera itself, then the entire field of view should appear to be shaking (including the orbiter) if it's actually the camera that's shaking. The ET cam always makes it look as though only the skin of the ET directly in front of the camera is shaking.

Chandonn · « **Reply #306 on:** 10/23/2007 05:10 pm »

Sounds like the ice on the feedline came from rain, not condensation or leakage. That's good news!

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #307 on:** 10/23/2007 05:13 pm »

Welcome back Discovery!

Great to see her back in orbit. WRT to the feedline, I remember Hale saying that a lot of the shaking is due to the combination of the rough thrust of the SRBs and the fact that thousands of gallons of fuel are pumping through that thing every second. Perfectly normal.

el_nino · « **Reply #308 on:** 10/23/2007 05:14 pm »

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Davejfb - 23/10/2007 1:01 PM

An amazing picture.

where did you find that???

zappafrank · « **Reply #309 on:** 10/23/2007 05:16 pm »

The two line data will be up on Heavens-above later today.

I tried to track ISS with my Meade scope last nite, but I didn't have a clear view of the horizon, I messed up.

psloss · « **Reply #310 on:** 10/23/2007 05:16 pm »

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Chandonn - 23/10/2007 1:07 PM

The ET cam always makes it look as though only the skin of the ET directly in front of the camera is shaking.

Right, because the skin in front of the LO2 feedline camera is the skin of the LO2 feedline, not the other parts of the ET.

Chandonn · « **Reply #311 on:** 10/23/2007 05:19 pm »

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psloss - 23/10/2007 1:16 PM

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Chandonn - 23/10/2007 1:07 PM

The ET cam always makes it look as though only the skin of the ET directly in front of the camera is shaking.
Right, because the skin in front of the LO2 feedline camera is the skin of the LO2 feedline, not the other parts of the ET.

gotcha.

Switching gears: the press conference discussion about the ice is fascinating. And the press is actually asking some good questions this time without all the doom and gloom.

generic_handle_42 · « **Reply #312 on:** 10/23/2007 05:20 pm »

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el_nino - 23/10/2007 1:14 PM

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Davejfb - 23/10/2007 1:01 PM

An amazing picture.

where did you find that???

It's a screencap of one of the final launch replays. I don't have the exact camera number/location handy, but it was definitely part of the launch replays. A very nice pic, indeed.

EDIT: It's from the replay of TV Tower 1 (TV-11). It was the last launch replay shown.

-Nick-

toddbronco2 · « **Reply #313 on:** 10/23/2007 05:25 pm »

I didn't see anybody else mention this, but there are launch photos available now on the Kennedy Space Center media archive site:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4

Well, at least 2 photos for now

Jorge · « **Reply #314 on:** 10/23/2007 05:37 pm »

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Chandonn - 23/10/2007 12:07 PM

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Jorge - 23/10/2007 12:49 PM

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Chandonn - 23/10/2007 11:44 AM

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Jorge - 23/10/2007 12:39 PM

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Chandonn - 23/10/2007 11:30 AM

Watching the ET cam, and how much the skin of teh ET shakes and moves, it's easy to see how difficult it is to mitigrate foam and ice liberation.

That's not the skin of the ET. The ET camera is mounted in the LOX feedline fairing and most of the bottom of the camera field of view is dominated by the LOX feedline itself. That's what you're seeing shaking, not the skin of the ET itself.

I would expect the shuttle to be shaking as well if that's the case, but it doesn't seem to be in the camera view.

Why would you expect the orbiter to be shaking if the LOX feedline is shaking? You do realize the feedline isn't rigid and doesn't form the structural connection between the orbiter and the ET, right?

Perspective. If the ET appears to be shaking, when in fact it's the camera itself, then the entire field of view should appear to be shaking (including the orbiter) if it's actually the camera that's shaking. The ET cam always makes it look as though only the skin of the ET directly in front of the camera is shaking.

No. You misunderstand. The camera is mounted to the LOX feedline fairing. The fairing is mounted to the ET itself, NOT the feedline. It is only the feedline that is shaking. Not the camera, not the feedline fairing, not the ET, and not the orbiter. It is NOT the "skin of the ET directly in front of the camera" that is shaking, it is the LOX feedline.

Lee Jay · « **Reply #315 on:** 10/23/2007 05:42 pm »

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Jorge - 23/10/2007 11:37 AM
No. You misunderstand. The camera is mounted to the LOX feedline fairing. The fairing is mounted to the ET itself, NOT the feedline. It is only the feedline that is shaking. Not the camera, not the feedline fairing, not the ET, and not the orbiter. It is NOT the "skin of the ET directly in front of the camera" that is shaking, it is the LOX feedline.

It's still impressive to me how much that feedline calms down after SRB sep.

Zachstar · « **Reply #316 on:** 10/23/2007 05:43 pm »

Time for me to get ready to provide detailed coverage.

Here is the orbit as of this post as a quick test to insure this is working right.

DaveS · « **Reply #317 on:** 10/23/2007 05:47 pm »

KU band antenna deploy and activation has been completed.

dawei · « **Reply #318 on:** 10/23/2007 05:47 pm »

Discovery is go for vernier control. KU band antenna deploy and activation complete.

dawei · « **Reply #319 on:** 10/23/2007 05:47 pm »

Shift handover. Orbit 2 team taking over.