Shuttle Launch Postponed

• #160 by Davie OPF on 27 Aug, 2006 17:22
• We're expecting to hear a rollback being called.
• #161 by psloss on 27 Aug, 2006 17:27
• Looks like a possible weather briefing to the MMT and some huddling around the LH2 vent at the pad in the past few minutes...
  
  

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• #162 by shuttlefan on 27 Aug, 2006 17:37
• Would rollback ocurr as soon as tonight?
• #163 by Bubbinski on 27 Aug, 2006 17:42
• C'mon Ernesto...take a jog to the west, would ya?  As far as eliminating the daylight launch constraint, wouldn't the engineers want to see how the foam performs under a High Q ascent before allowing this?  If that's the case, and if October is truly in the cards now, I would hope they would be able to squeeze out some more time in the October daylight window.  Is that realistic?
• #164 by astrobrian on 27 Aug, 2006 17:57
• Forgot about the High Q , probably not going to lift the constraints then  Mainly becuase if foam is going to shed, it will be worse in High Q.  What is the current schedule of briefings at this point? I have heard of 2 today so far to occur. One in a little while and another around 10 or 11 tonight Eastern
• #165 by jacqmans on 27 Aug, 2006 18:02
• At a 2 p.m. press conference today, Bill Gerstenmaier, Associate Adm. for space operations, will provide further details on launch preparations. The briefing will be carried live on NASA TV.
  
• #166 by DaveS on 27 Aug, 2006 18:16
• It's NET 2:30 pm EDT now.
• #167 by Peter NASA on 27 Aug, 2006 18:19
• The storm seems to be too much of a risk. It keeps heading to the east, not the west.
• #168 by DaveS on 27 Aug, 2006 18:22
• Quote

  STS-Chris - 27/8/2006  8:07 PM
  
  Officials received a Hurricane Ernesto briefing earlier this hour. Details on the storm's forecast and whether Atlantis might have to be rolled off the launch pad to seek shelter in the Vehicle Assembly Building will be addressed in the upcoming NASA news conference, now expected to begin no sooner than 2:30 p.m.

  This is from Spaceflightnow.com: http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts115/status.html
• #169 by Shuttle Man on 27 Aug, 2006 18:27
• Well duh.
• #170 by James Lowe1 on 27 Aug, 2006 18:29
• Let's PLEASE keep this update thread to UPDATES, not what other media are catching up with what we've already heard. Thanks.
• #171 by astrobrian on 27 Aug, 2006 18:33

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• #172 by Martin FL on 27 Aug, 2006 18:33
• One computer model now has the track go directly over the Cape.

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• #173 by psloss on 27 Aug, 2006 18:37
• Latest NHC advisory (2 pm Eastern):
  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/271758.shtml
  
  May be a tropical storm for a little bit...
  
  

  Quote

  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH...120 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
  GUSTS.  REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE INDICATE
  THAT ERNESTO MAY HAVE WEAKENED BELOW HURRICANE STRENGTH...AND IF
  THIS IS CONFIRMED THE SYSTEM WILL BE DOWNGRADED TO A TROPICAL STORM
  ON THE NEXT ADVISORY.  STRENGTHENING IS NOT LIKELY UNTIL THE CENTER
  MOVES AWAY FROM THE MOUNTAINOUS SOUTHWESTERN PENINSULA OF HAITI.
  .
  .
  .
  ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1002 MB...29.59 INCHES.
• #174 by Avron on 27 Aug, 2006 18:38
• So the best option is BAM Medium.. I just hope the storm grinds to a halt...
• #175 by astrobrian on 27 Aug, 2006 18:48
• Briefing start
  

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• #176 by psloss on 27 Aug, 2006 18:48
• Sure doesn't sound like anything has been decided yet...
  
• #177 by Stardust9906 on 27 Aug, 2006 18:51

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• #178 by psloss on 27 Aug, 2006 18:52
• MMT meeting still planned for 6 pm tonight.  Sounds like this will be when the rollback decision is made.  They're keeping all their options open for both launch and rollback, but they have to choose one soon.
  
• #179 by Chris Bergin on 27 Aug, 2006 18:52
• So the decision is coming tonight, that's for sure.