LIVE: STS-124: Launch Day / Flight Day 1 - May 31

[generic_handle_42]

A/G VOICE CHECK on page 1-8.

[Ford Mustang]

TAL plan hasn't changed.  Still taking 2 Engine Moron.

[jancarlobascu]

Hatch inspection

[sts1canada]

Hi all,
Great site.
Can anyone tell me where to find or let me know which direction the shuttle heads today?  I'm in south Florida (Palm Beach County) and was able to see it once at night, but it headed NE.  Any chance it will be headed on a SE trajectory?
Thanks
Tom

Hi Tom, welcome to the site!

The shuttle for ISS missions will always head northeast at launch to catch up with the ISS due to safety reasons for not passing over land areas.

4 minutes to the 10 minute T-20 minute hold.
 
Richard

[Ronsmytheiii]

Helium leakage, no big deal though

[SpaceNutz SA]

Hi all,
Great site.
Can anyone tell me where to find or let me know which direction the shuttle heads today?  I'm in south Florida (Palm Beach County) and was able to see it once at night, but it headed NE.  Any chance it will be headed on a SE trajectory?
Thanks
Tom

It always launches in a NE direction - on the ascending node.

[kneecaps]

The PASS/BFS transfer allows the LPS (Launch Processing System) to command the so called 'one shot transfer' of the PASS (Primary flight software) data (launch trajectory etc) into the BFS (Backup Flight System) computer.

 

[sts1canada]

No, the shuttle launches (to ISS) at an inclination of 51.6 degrees, which is NE. I'm not sure about STS-125 as that is a Hubble Space Telescope mission...

The next mission STS-125 will have a 28.5 degree inclination so it will take a more easterly track than we have seen in a while, this would be the last "due east" launch traj. in the program.

Richard

FYI 1 minute to the T-20 minute hold.

[kneecaps]

Thrust bucket update was:

PC 72 at 0.81 mach
PC 104 at 1.21 mach

[Ford Mustang]

T-20M and HOLDING for 10 minutes.

[Avron]

carrier panel is on..

[thoms100]

Thanks all for the feedback.
125 should look better down here.
Godspeed to the crew.

[jancarlobascu]

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has paused for a 10-minute built-in hold. Launch is scheduled for 5:02 p.m. EDT. Everything is going smoothly with the countdown and current weather conditions are beautiful.

During this built-in hold, all computer programs in Firing Room 4 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center will be verified to ensure that the proper programs are available for the countdown; the landing convoy status will be verified and the landing sites will be checked to support an abort landing during launch today; the Inertial Measurement Unit preflight alignment will be verified completed; and preparations are made to transition the orbiter onboard computers to Major Mode 101 upon coming out of the hold. This configures the computer memory to a terminal countdown configuration.

[generic_handle_42]

CDR performing cabin vent redundancy config.

[Ford Mustang]

Now tethering themselves in order to break down the White Room.

[sts1canada]

5 minutes to the resumption of the countdown from the T-20 hold, 1 hour 10 minutes to launch.

Richard

[Ford Mustang]

Close-out crew ready to depart pad.  White Room crew ready to start breakdown of the White Room.

[jancarlobascu]

leaving the white room

[RHAnthony]

First time in HD... looks good even over the inhouse network feed.
Hey all, just jumping into the fray here in between busy phoenix related things at work...

[Avron]