Author Topic: LIVE: STS-124: Launch Day / Flight Day 1 - May 31 (Read 159553 times)

Felix · « **Reply #580 on:** 05/31/2008 10:07 pm »

8min away from the POST LAUNCH press conference (6:15pm EDT)

cb6785 · « **Reply #581 on:** 05/31/2008 10:09 pm »

Let's not stress this debri-thing to much. As long as we're here at NSF we'll be the first to know if anything comes up.

sts1canada · « **Reply #582 on:** 05/31/2008 10:10 pm »

Quote from: Lee Jay on 05/31/2008 10:00 pm

The puff I saw passed from the front of the orbiter over the right wing.

Was it right before SRB sep or after, the RCS jets in the upward facing part of the nose of the shuttle do fire for a second or so at SRB sep to disrupt the effects of the SRB booster separation motors plume on the shuttle's windows. The puff was probably the hypergolic fuel igniting in the atmosphere (what is left of it) at that point in the FRCS system.

Richard

kneecaps · « **Reply #583 on:** 05/31/2008 10:11 pm »

Quote from: hobson911 on 05/31/2008 10:05 pm

I was not looking for a sensation...I was just stating the scheduled time of the press conference.

Apologies..I was speaking generally!

Lee Jay · « **Reply #584 on:** 05/31/2008 10:11 pm »

Quote from: psloss on 05/31/2008 10:02 pm

What was the MET?

2:13. Slowing it down to frame-by-frame, it now does look like OMS ignition. At full-speed, it *still* looks like it went over the wing to me! But I think it was behind it.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #585 on:** 05/31/2008 10:12 pm »

Looks like Discovery is just passing by New Zealand. Payload bay doors and radiators open in 20 min - Garan and Nyberg will be doing that operation. Post launch news conference coming up.

Felix · « **Reply #586 on:** 05/31/2008 10:14 pm »

POST LAUNCH conference is expected to begin in 5 min

Page 1-3 in the post insertion checklist is complete

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #587 on:** 05/31/2008 10:14 pm »

Short video in this post. Best I could do without ruining quality.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #588 on:** 05/31/2008 10:15 pm »

Upcoming:

sts1canada · « **Reply #589 on:** 05/31/2008 10:16 pm »

Discovery is passing New Zealand, about to start orbit 2 in 20 minutes or so, the ISS is around 2500 miles out front of it. Now the game of catchup begins in earnest with the NC1 burn at 7:57 PM EDT, MET of 2:55.

Richard

hobson911 · « **Reply #590 on:** 05/31/2008 10:16 pm »

Quote from: cb6785 on 05/31/2008 10:09 pm

Let's not stress this debri-thing to much. As long as we're here at NSF we'll be the first to know if anything comes up.

And thank goodness for L2!!

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #591 on:** 05/31/2008 10:17 pm »

"A huge day, obviously, for the partnership, for JAXA, and for the Space Station."

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #592 on:** 05/31/2008 10:18 pm »

"Great to see the KIBO module getting closer to its home, will be better to see it attached. Saw 5 pieces of foam come off the ET. No impact so far. Things looked really well."

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #593 on:** 05/31/2008 10:19 pm »

"Just a flawless countdown and a launch. Relatively few problems. Clearly had no constraints, and was very smooth. Big milestone for us. Flown 10 missions since RTF, 10 to go. We're hitting our stride. This was the most important launch, a hugely important mission for the programs, and very happy for our Japanese friends. We've worked hard on the ET, in terms of improvement. Looks great today. An outstanding effort all around today."

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #594 on:** 05/31/2008 10:20 pm »

"Just a gorgeous launch. Extremely smooth launch countdown. Just outstanding. Tied the lowest IPR's with 74. Made my job extremely easy."

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #595 on:** 05/31/2008 10:22 pm »

"Very thankful to see Discovery launch today. Carrying our pressurized Kibo module. Second of three scheduled flights for bringing up Japanese items to the ISS. Akih is flying aboard Discovery to welcome Kibo to the ISS. We hope he will fulfill his mission by demonstrating his knowledge he attained from training. I hope Discovery will return safely to KSC after a very successful mission."

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #596 on:** 05/31/2008 10:23 pm »

Here come the questions...brace yourselves.

elmarko · « **Reply #597 on:** 05/31/2008 10:24 pm »

"A question for a Shuttle Person"

Great opening gambit :-/

haywoodfloyd · « **Reply #598 on:** 05/31/2008 10:24 pm »

Quote from: Ford Mustang on 05/31/2008 10:14 pm

Short video in this post. Best I could do without ruining quality.

Good capture Ford.
It confirms for me that it was just one piece with its shadow.
And it missed the wing.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #599 on:** 05/31/2008 10:24 pm »

Worst case as far the gimbal is concerned is a loss of redundancy. No issue.