July shuttle launch still on track! Good news!

www.cnn.com...

Go NASA go!

The possible launch edged closer after NASA engineers met at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to discuss the risk to an orbiter posed by ice falling off the shuttle's external tank during liftoff.

Ice in July?????

Why would ice fall from the ET?

I think they mean foam, dont they?

Mic

From the same article

NASA engineers in recent weeks have been conducting tests to refine the risk analysis related to ice that builds up on a shuttle's external tank just before launch, when it is filled with super-cold liquid oxygen and hydrogen fuel. Program managers have expressed concern that sizable pieces of that ice could break off during liftoff and damage a shuttle orbiter.

So does that answer your question?

Originally posted by WyrdeOne
From the same article

NASA engineers in recent weeks have been conducting tests to refine the risk analysis related to ice that builds up on a shuttle's external tank just before launch, when it is filled with super-cold liquid oxygen and hydrogen fuel. Program managers have expressed concern that sizable pieces of that ice could break off during liftoff and damage a shuttle orbiter.

So does that answer your question?

Stoopid me not reading the whole article!

Cheers WyrdeOne!

Mic

This is good news...hope it all stays on track.

Yay, more screwing around in low earth orbit.

We should be going to Mars, not playing around in orbit.



[edit on 28-6-2005 by MrMorden]

Originally posted by MrMorden
Yay, more screwing around in low earth orbit.

We should be going to Mars, not playing around in orbit.

With what?

We havent got the capabilities to go to the Moon never mind Mars!

I agree that we should be going, we just cant yet!

Pretty stoopid really when you consider we had the tech nearly 40 yrs ago to get to the Moon and now we dont!

Dude, we have the technology to go to Mars today no problem. Only problem is all of the technology is tied up in "black-programs" or Special Access Programs. One day you will see this!

Originally posted by meshuggah1324
Dude, we have the technology to go to Mars today no problem. Only problem is all of the technology is tied up in "black-programs" or Special Access Programs. One day you will see this!

And even that's not really true. Read Zubrin's "The Case for Mars." We can get there now, with existing technology, for abouyt 10-20% of what NASA plans to spend on it, and without going to the moon first.

Originally posted by meshuggah1324
Dude, we have the technology to go to Mars today no problem. Only problem is all of the technology is tied up in "black-programs" or Special Access Programs. One day you will see this!

I also believe that we have the tech to go to Mars!

I also believe that we have already been to Mars but the Government dont want us to know!

Why?......I dont know!

Mic

Seems the Return To Flight Mission (STS-114) has been given the thumbs up by the chief investigator on the Columbia board.......

This can only be good news!

Link To Full Story!!!

Mic

I found out they bumped it last night, totally wrenched my heart out.

I got my CNN alert today - JOY! Totally psyched.

I'm as giddy as a school girl about this news, I really am.

Most know this but for those of you that dont.....

Originally From nasa.gov
NASA has cleared the Space Shuttle to Return to Flight. After a two-day Flight Readiness Review meeting at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, senior managers approved a July 13 launch date for Discovery.

Commander Eileen Collins and her crew are scheduled to lift off at 3:51 p.m. EDT on the first U.S. space flight since the February 2003 loss of the Shuttle Columbia.

Mic

Yea, I think everyone at NASA/KSC is pretty excited about the whole thing. I just hope everything turns out OK!

Originally posted by T_Jesus
Yea, I think everyone at NASA/KSC is pretty excited about the whole thing. I just hope everything turns out OK!

Me too!

As much as i call the shuttle program i still wish NASA the best of luck for the launch and all future launches!

It is nice to see the manned space program back on track after the long wait since Columbia.

Mic

Lets hope Dennis doesn't mess with the launch. Storm is predicted to hit around the time of the launch. Maybe they should launch sooner.

Fingers crossed; so far my news in the UK seems to be indicating a 'go'.

Here's hoping the weather holds.

All seems to be going smoothly.....

Link To Full Story!!!

Mic

After reading todays Science Times article, I am totally repumped. I still can't get over the 10 minute window thing, it's absurd.

Discovery++

What time is the launch again?? GMT??